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.
