Ramleela Artists launched “Chandigarh Says Goodbye Poly Bags” Campaign

Ramleela Artists launched

“Chandigarh Says Goodbye Poly Bags” Campaign

First time anywhere in India Ramleela Artists Came Forward to Stop Polythene Bags Use

 National Tele24 News

Vinay Kumar

Chandigarh.

Today, in an innovative move Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration along with Yuvsatta-an NGO organized Ramleela Artists of Jagriti Ram Leela Committee, Sector 23 who dressed up as Sri Ram, Maa Sita, Laxman and Veer Hanuman reached weekly APNI MANDI at Sector 15A in the evening to launch “Chandigarh Says Goodbye Poly Bags” Campaign. The Ramleela Artists, accompanied by Residents Association of Sector 15, students of DAV Model School, Sector 15A and girls from Kitabghar of Yuvsatta at Sector 26, distributed cloth bags to shoppers on the occasion and inspired them to say ‘NO’ to use of polythene bags. “ Our aim is to make shoppers aware that every time they use a plastic bag they contribute to the high levels of pollution in our city and to encourage them to not leave home without a reusable bag,” said Dabendra Dalai, the Director of Department of Environment at Chandigarh Administration. Mr. Dalai further added that over a trillion plastic bags are used around the world each year. The average time that a plastic bag is used for is only twelve minutes. Most plastic bags are non-biodegradable and take between 15 and 1,000 years to degrade. Animals like cows and birds choke on them. “Micro plastics are working their way up the food chain and ending up on our plate”. Mr. Dalai also inspired people for the ‘source segregation’ (at the origin) of all solid waste, including plastics which would dramatically improve the recycling efficiency of all throw away items. “There should be a mass awareness campaign to promote the ‘bin’ culture and zero tolerance towards littering. This can become a cornerstone of the government’s ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ (Clean India Mission),” he said.

    Pramod Sharma, Coordinator, Yuvsatta-an NGO demanded that the ‘one time’ use plastics (mostly of use and throw nature) be banned, and that not just the manufacturers or sellers, but even the users be penalised. Like State of Maharashtra the ban should be extended to other trash generating items as well like plastic bags, thermocol, disposable cups and plates, cutlery, non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic pouches and packaging. As “today’s pain is tomorrow’s gain”. Welcoming the Chandigarh Administrations drive against single use polythene bags Surinder Sharma, President of Residents Association shared that such a ban should have rather been brought 10 years ago. As the menace and damage caused by excessive careless and needless use of plastic has caused a massive damage to the ecosystem. Another prominent resident of Sector 15 HS Talwar of Talwar Dairy added that the micro-plastics have entered our food chain. Wherever plastic is needed for packaging like the milk pouches, there cellulose-based compostable plastic can be used or Government owned entities like VERKA & VITA can easily change for old system of  glass milk bottles or Delhi like milk dispensers of Mother Dairy can also be easily installed at all milk booths in the city” he suggested.