TOI : Ban on plastic bags exists only on paper : Oct 5, 2007

Ban on plastic bags exists only on paper
Prafulla Marpakwar I TNN

Mumbai: More than a year after the Vilasrao Deshmukh government imposed a
complete ban on the use of thin plastic bags, they are available in plenty
across the state.

    Reason: Both the environment department and the state pollution control
board have miserably failed in implementing the stringent order in letter
and spirit.

    After several parts of the state witnessed large-scale water-logging in
July 2005 owing to polythene carry bags, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh
started a proposal to ban thin plastic bags. Deshmukh later appointed a
committee led by former chief secretary V Rangnathan to recommend steps for
imposing restrictions on the use of thin plastic bags.

    On the basis of Rangnathan committee's observations, the government
brought in a new legislation-the Maharashtra Non-Biodegradable Garbage
Control Act, 2006-to provide for complete ban on manufacture and use of
plastic bags below 50 micron thickness against the 20 micron thickness
prescribed by the Centre. The legislation also provided for stringent
penalty for those defying the law.

    The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the industries commissioner
were empowered to take action against erring manufacturers, while municipal
commissioners and district collectors were could take on the dealers.
Despite the enactment of the legislation, the law-enforcing agencies were
unable to implement the ban, and so, plastic bags of 20 microns and even
five microns were available.

    Now, in the view of the inability expressed by the implementing
agencies, the environment department has the power to take on small illegal
plastic manufacturers as well. According to an official order, now the
municipal commissioner or any other officer nominated by him, the member
secretary of the MPCB or an officer nominated by him, development
commissioner or his nominee, collector or his nominee not below the rank of
tehsildar and the chief officer of a municipal council or his nominee have
been empowered to enforce the ban.

    However, officials in the corridors of power said these officials should
have been empowered to implement the legislation as soon as it was enacted.
"We lost two years since July 2005. Despite a law in force, we could not
enforce the ban,'' an official said.

    Bureaucrats also feel that unless the state bans all plastic bags, the
legislation will never be implemented.

prafulla.marpakwar@timesgroup.com
Publication:Times of India Mumbai; Date:Oct 5, 2007; Section:Times City;
Page Number:11

URL :
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDA3LzEwLzA1I0FyMDExMDE=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom