Extensive use of banned polythene bags by traders with impunity in jurisdiction of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has exposed failure of multiple agencies in effective implementation of law enacted to prohibit use of non-biodegradable materials (NBM), which are responsible for life-threatening complications, besides acting as villain in environmental degradation.
Vide SRO 231 dated March 26th, 2019, the J&K government has completely banned all items identified as NBM and declared as NBM control area under NBM Act 2007. Post issuance of ban circular, though Jammu city has witnessed a considerable decline in sale of several single-use plastic (SUP) items, still alarming sale and use of forbidden polythene bags has decimated the sincere endeavors of government to protect fragile ecological system and human beings from its fatal effects.
As per the Act, no individual or commercial establishment may store, sell, or use banned polythene bags, and violators are liable for action ranging from fines to sealing of godowns and deregistration of business.
However, prohibited polythene bags and other SUPs continue to circulate freely in the markets, highlighting glaring gaps in monitoring and enforcement. Shopkeepers in Sabzi Mandi, traders in market and street vendors, as well as those dealing in sale of milk and curd, are using banned plastic bags with full impunity, said Rajesh Kumar, a visitor to Sabzi Mandi, Parade, Jammu. He expressed his dismay at the current state of affairs.
Though the JMC as well as the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (JKPCB) intermittently showcase the seizure of banned plastic items with widespread media glare, the entire exercise appears ‘symbolic,’ mainly focusing on soft targets while the big fish remain out of reach, say critics, social and RTI activists –Rajeshwar Singh Jamwal.
Pertinent to mentioned here that since the imposition of blanket ban on sale of SUPs in J&K only once the JMC has seized biggest consignment of banned polythene bags in a raid at Rajiv Nagar under the personal supervision of upright Commissioner, Dr. Devansh Yadav.
Its remain a mystery as to why down the line, the JMC Health and Sanitation wing with widespread network of field staff failed to identify warehouse involved in storage and supply of prohibited polythene bags especially in old Jammu city ?
Sharing a list of godowns and modus operandi adopted in hurdle-free storage and supply of barred polythene bags, a JMC official requesting anonymity avers, “The situation has reached an alarming level in old Jammu city. Areas falling under JMC Zone 1 have become a major hub of storage, sale, distribution, and use of banned polythene bags, where notorious godown owners enjoy prolonged protection as part of operation quid pro quo”. The details emerging about operation of godown owners are interesting, which shall be elaborated separately in a series of news items.
Further revealing the alleged seizure of a banned polythene bag consignment from a huge warehouse located in Shakti Nagar, which was later projected as recovered from a footpath at Indira Chowk, reliable sources in Health and Sanitation wing of JMC said, “Despite a series of seizures by in-charge Sanitation Officer Arun Nayar, the sale of non-permissible polythene bags has reached an alarming level in old Jammu city.” Without accountability and transparency, the entire anti-polythene drive is a gimmick to mislead higher authorities, added sources.
When contacted, Abdul Sattar, Joint Commissioner, H&S, JMC clarified that efforts are underway to launch crackdown on warehouse involved in storage and supply of banned polythene bags in JMC jurisdiction. Those within the JMC if found facilitating sale of polythene bags in league with violators will be dealt strictly under prevention of corruption Act, he added.
(To be continued)