Beat Plastic Pollution
India is a major producer of plastic waste that ends up in the oceans. The
UN theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, should not remain an empty slogan. India should make its own rules on waste
management seriously. The Solid
Waste Management Rules and the Plastic Waste Management Rules were made in 2016.
But the State governments have simply not given them the necessary momentum,
and the producers of plastic articles have shown little concern about their
negative environmental impact.
The Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system is on the UN map of 10 rivers
worldwide that collectively carry the bulk of the plastic waste into the
oceans. They threaten marine
life and the well-being of people, as microplastics are now found even in
drinking water. Communities and environmentally minded individuals are ahead of
governments and municipal authorities. They segregate waste, compost at home,
conduct “plastic free” social events and help recover materials that would
otherwise just be dumped in the suburbs and wetlands.
But, voluntary efforts
cannot achieve what systemic reform can. The Environment (Protection) Act is implemented in letter and spirit. India
and the world face a plastics crisis. Solving it will take more than slogans.
Main thing is that we never act on the place where plastic bags are
created, government is just busy making laws but they are never implemented
properly. Mere slogan is not going to resolve out this 'Plastic Crisis'. The
plan should be implemented in letter and spirit. Citizen should move towards
biodegradable carry bag.
Why are the plastic producing companies not being banned from making
plastics beyond the permissible limit? These are all hog wash. The plastic may
easily be replaced by jute and the jute companies might get a new lease of
life. This decision might give double benefit to the country. Some of the
states have banned the usage of plastics but this piecemeal approach will lead
us nowhere unless a blanket ban is imposed upon it. The Central govt. will have
to take the call if the govt. wants to show its genuineness.
Local bodies in some areas implemented the use of paper bags or
biodegradable alternatives. Yet it has to reach many places. Central Govt
should go ahead rather than just come up with slogans.
Plastic really needs to be discouraged. In this connection, it is seen
that we have so far made noise given popular slogan and enacted laws/ordinance
on the paper only to rid of the plastic free country but there was never any
practical action on the ground to eradicate this menace. Now seeing the ground
realities of the plastic as how it is gradually devastating the entire
environment including water, air and earth, one must wake up to take some
decision action. It’s not the responsibility of a government only, every
individual of a society must be awakened to fight with this menace. In this
direction, the first step should be to totally ban the plastic carry bags
despite its effect on people's employment with it. The entire society must be sensitised
about the hazardous effect it is causing on the mankind. They should be
encouraged to take up work with the eco-friendly products like jute or other
biodegradable product. If we get lenient on it, we would never win the fight.
While creating awareness on hazards of plastic waste, the stress on
alternative methods should be coupled with incentives for discarding plastic.
Encouraging the industry to produce organic method of disposing waste will
impact reducing pollution and protecting clean and green environment. The
plastic management is on paper and has become a wishful thinking. India is
becoming the dumpyard of all plastics and chemical wastes.
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