Unaffected by the global meltdown, but still in a shambles. This is the plight of the small industries engaged in manufacturing polythene carry bags in Chandigarh.
The administration vide notification dated July 30, 2008 by the department of Environment under Section 5 of the Environment protection Act, 1986, banned the use, storage,import, selling, transportation and disposal of plastic/polythene carry bags by any person including shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler/retailer, trader, hawker and rehriwala. The ban was implemented from November 2.
The administration took the step on the grounds that the polythene bags clog the sanitation system of the city and creates water-logging.
The Chandigarh Plastic Manufacturers and Traders Association has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the hearing is awaited on December 15.
The President of the Association, Jarnail Singh, told Business Standard that if they lose in High Court they will move the Supreme Court.
He said carry bags of thickness 30 microns were allowed in Chandigarh. “In Delhi, the thickness was revised from 20 microns to 40 microns. Eliminating carry bags is not a solution to the problem of environmental degradation Littering of plastic bags should be banned. As plastic is an inert material, it does not harm the environment directly. The proper management of plastic carry bags waste would have been more viable option to protect the environment,” he said.
He added about 500 people were getting direct employment and over 10,000 people were indirectly employed in this business. All of these were on the verge of closure due to the ban.
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There are about a dozen units manufacturing polythene bags in Chandigarh.
Jarnail Singh said it was not possible to switch over from polythene bags to paper bags as that needed different machinery.
“Capital investment of over Rs 1 crore has been locked inby the ban that includes six machines (Rs 10 lakh each), inventory of Rs 25 lakh, delayed payment and the factory premises by this notification at a single unit,” Singh added.
The shopkeepers in the town were also uncomfortable over this decision as it was difficult to carry milk and poultry products in paper bags.
A leading retailer told Business Standard that the ban was imposed without providing any alternative. It was difficult to pack and carry grocery items in paper bags. He added that there were not many units around to supply quality paper bags so their problem was compounded.
The frequent inspection by the enforcement staff is also a source if harrassment, says one of the retailers.