Why ban on polythene bags hasn’t been implemented in J&K?

Despite blanket ban imposed on polythene bags and single use plastics, there is open use of these non-biodegradable items, thus polluting pristine environs of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per estimates more than 50,000 tons of polythene and plastic waste is generated in J & K annually. However, in the absence of a scientific process to collect and segregate plastics at source, non-biodegradable items, especially polythene, are dumped into water bodies, landfills and forest areas— choking and polluting the environment.

Housing natural wealth—glaciers, mountains, forests and water bodies— J&K has been battling extreme pollution mainly due to unscientific dumping of garbage. To curb pollution, the J&K High Court had imposed a blanket ban on entry, use and sale of polythene bags especially in tourist places and healthcare institutions. However, authorities failed to implement the order on the ground. Subsequently on June 18, 2008, the J&K Government banned all kinds of polythene bags by issuing SRO 182 under the J&K Non-Biodegradable Material (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act, 2007. But, successive regimes failed to implement it.

On October 22, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh directed the government to apprise it about the steps taken by the government on polythene bags ban and the awareness measures among people for avoiding its use in the Union Territory.

A division bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta granted “last and final opportunity” to Centre and J&K to report with regard to implementation of the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. In July this year, the court had granted last and final opportunity to the counsel for the authorities for filing a status report, failing which, it had said costs of Rs 50,000 would be imposed.

The High Court passed the direction on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Environmental Policy Group (EPG) comprising experts and people from different walks of life. The PIL filed is seeking implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules to ensure scientific disposal of waste.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on August 12, 2021 issued a notification by virtue of which manufacture, import, sale and use of identified single use plastic (SUP) items shall be prohibited across the country— with effect from July 1, 2022.

Subsequently, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) issued a public notice prohibiting production, stocking, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic in the Union Territory. The manufacture, import,sale and use of single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene commodities, have been prohibited with effect from July 1, 2022. Authorities have failed to implement the directions of the J&K High Court and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change to impose a ban on polythene and single-use plastics.

We have to understand that it takes over two decades for plastic bags to break down and decompose. Plastic items decompose after 1000 years!. Ironically use of polythene bags has increased manifold after the ban was imposed on its use! Hardly any sustained drive to implement a ban on polythene has been organised in J&K so far. Another reason is the non-availability of eco-friendly alternatives to polythene.

The Government in 2008 had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an Italian company to go for bioplastics production from corn, wheat and potato starch as an alternative for polythene. As per the MoU, the bio-degradable polythene made from potato starch, wheat and starch degrades within four months as compared to polythene made from plastic products and chemicals which decomposes after 20 years.

Ironically, the eco-friendly project was shelved before its start. There is a need to provide alternatives to polythene like jute and paper carry bags.

Few months ago, Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) announced a ban on use of plastic bottles in famous ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The hoteliers were asked to refrain from using plastic water bottles and replace them with glass bottles within a month. Such eco-friendly initiatives towards conservation of environment do matter and are the need of the hour.

It is a fact that most of the tourist destinations in J&K  are without proper Solid Waste Management. As a result, garbage, especially polythene and plastic bottles are dumped in water bodies and forests.

We have to understand that polythene and plastics release toxic chemicals severely affecting flora and fauna. These toxins reach us back through our food chain and take a toll on our health. It is the responsibility of the Government and stakeholders to apprise people about the ill-effects of polythene.

We must organise awareness campaigns against use of polythene bags in every village and locality of J&K. Stringent laws are required to enforce a ban on polythene.

It is high time to take steps for enforcing a ban on use of polythene. Let’s ensure to provide polythene and pollution free environment for our future generations
Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir