WAS THE PLASTIC BAN A JOKE????
On June 23, 2018, Maharashtra became the 18th Indian state to ban plastic items In India but, alas, after much publicity, enthusiasm and threats of a hefty fine of Rs. 5000/-., the Plastic Ban has failed to succeed! In Mulund, even today people are using plastic bags fearlessly, mocking at the so-called Plastic Ban of the state government!!!
Mulund resident, Bhavik Bhinde, told Home Times, “The government had made tall claims to bring an end to the menace of plastic within a short span but, tragically, it has failed utterly after a short impact during the early phase of the ban.” He added, “Six months after the ban, people have lost the fear of the hefty fine as no BMC officer is seen taking action on offenders of using plastic bags. The result is that today vegetable vendors and food stalls on road are openly giving things in plastic bags. Thus, with the plastic ban gone for a toss, once again the nullahs, gutters and the drains will be choked and yet again people will start making a hue and cry to ban plastic!!!”
Appreciating the impact of Plastic Ban in its initial stage, Bhinde said, “Initially, when the ban was imposed the BMC officers were strict in discharging their duty. Hence, Mulund had seen a decline in the use of plastic bags. The fear of being penalized Rs. 5000/- for carrying plastic bag had made people cautious and people had started using cloth, jute and paper bags. Even the vegetable vendors and street food stalls had stopped using plastic bags. Even the packed food from the restaurants had adopted alternatives to plastic.”
“Even environmentalists had heaved a sigh of relief as a small ray of hope had emerged and it looked the plastic ban would surely be a success in the coming days. But, the leniency by BMC against few plastic ban offenders opened the doors for others to seek mercy. Further, the lethargy of the BMC officials to punish plastic users gradually diminished the tiny ray of hope that had threatened to end the plastic menace,” moaned Bhinde.
Bhinde wonders, “The sight of food stall vendors on roads selling food packets in plastic or vegetable vendors selling vegetable and fruits in plastic without any fear or fright of BMC officials clearly depicts that the ban on plastic by the state government was a temporary phase.”
Expressing grief at the failure of the Plastic ban, Bhavik Bhinde laments, “The failure of the plastic ban in Mulund is purely due to the laxity and negligence of BMC officials. In the beginning, when the BMC officials were strict there was fear among the hawkers, shopkeepers and the common man. But, no sooner BMC became lenient in its duty, the fear has evaporated and people are daringly using plastic bags.”
“I think it is high time the BMC officials wake up from their slumber and become strict as in the past and start cracking the whip on the plastic bag offenders and revitalize the ‘fear’ or else, once again, we will have to witness Mulund getting drowned in water during the next monsoon,” warned Bhinde.
