When the plastic ban came into effect on 1 January, the one thing that was appreciated, was how even small shops and roadside vendors adopted to alternative methods right away.
However, much to everyone’s disappointment, most of these stores and their customers are going back to using polythene carry bags.
When News Today made a visit around the neighbourhood, it found several shops using polythene covers, as widely as earlier. Vendors slyly put items into plastic covers, if customers are not carrying cloth bags.
Some of the excuses shopkeepers gave were, “The ban is lifted,” “Nobody is asking us if we are using plastic covers,” and “We are finding it difficult to get alternatives.”
Speaking on this, a resident of Palavakkam said, “The government has laid a rule, but no replacement products have come to the market. Were the authorities genuinely looking to ban plastic or was is it an eye-wash? This is a delicate situation.”
According to the founder of Namma Ooru Foundation, P Natarajan, “There are several gaps and loopholes in implementing this ban. They allow silver foil containers, so many tea shops, roadside stalls and even hotels in Adyar, Besant Nagar and Thiruvanmiyur, are using Silver Multi-layered Plastic (MLP) . This doesn’t look like plastic, and passes off as silver foil. They are fooling people with it.”
Similarly, non-woven polypropylene bags are coming up in a large way and are being used in several textile shops. These are also being given away in the guise of cloth
bags.
“There is no clarity in this. The government machinery is not going full swing to enforce the ban. There were six months to get everyone prepared, but it’s all gone in less than two months. Hope the administration steps in and brings about solutions,” he said.