Newmai News Network
Shillong | October 28
Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Shillong East constituency, Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh has come up with - ‘BYOB - Bring Your Own Bag!’ today during the launch of ‘Beat Plastic Pollution with Sla & Pla’ project which was held at the Laitumkhrah market. She said the only way to defeat the plastic carry-bag epidemic was to carry your own shopping bags.
Lyngdoh also urged the sellers to stop using single-use plastic bags and tell their customers, ‘BYOB’ and to put up notices to this effect in the shops.
“There is a need for installing small incinerators in Iew Shillong and other major markets of the State to ensure that waste management can be done in a proper manner,” Lyngdoh said while calling upon all involved in this project to see that the supply chain of these traditional carry bags can sustain the demand for these products to ensure that this project can be carried out in letter and spirit.
A kiosk selling cloth bags from leaves locally called lamet, bamboo bark plates and wrappings and paper bags will be standing in the marketplace with nature-friendly items for people who forget to bring their own bags.
The idea is to have such kiosks standing in every market-place for easy access to these items in the future to encourage people to replace plastic use with these natural products.
“The project is a mission mode initiative of the Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) to encourage the people to replace plastic carry bags with cloth bags (Pla) and leaves (Sla), which are traditionally used. These are nature friendly and bio-degradable,” said MSPB Chairman, Lambor Malngiang.
The project was conceptualized by the MSPB with the support of a host of departments and non government organizations (NGOs).
“I woke up to the danger of being drowned in plastic bags after watching a video of the plastic flooded Umiam lake which had gone viral recently and I knew we have to stop this right now,” Malngiang said while addressing the gathering.
“Do you know that a survey says that every single day, Laitumkhrah market uses more than 5000 single use plastic bags?” he said and asked the crowd to figure out where the discarded plastic bags all go.
According to another speaker, the Shillong Municipal Board and the Shillong Cantonment Board areas together generate a whopping 8 metric tons of plastic per annum.
“Use Pla and Sla which can be used and reused,” he said while adding that these materials not only preserve the beautiful environment but can also generate income and employment.
Informing the gathering that the items are handmade by the students with special ability from the Bethany Society, Shillong, he added that the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the traditional institutions have to be involved in these efforts.
“We must stop using plastic altogether. We can make these campaigns successful by saying No to plastic,” he said.
Matsiewdor War Nongbri, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills said that Meghalaya lags far behind in cleanliness in all aspects. She expressed hope that the project launched will help create awareness among the general public about the need to stop use of plastic.
The State Council of Science Technology & Environment is the main collaborator of the Board along with office of the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Shillong Municipal Board, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Directorate of Social Welfare, Directorate of Tourism, Directorate of Urban Affairs, State Council of Science Technology & Environment, Laitumkhrah Dorbar Shnong, NGOs: NEEDS, NESFAS, Bethany Society, KISHA, Media Partner Radio Mirchi, Shillong.
