Plastics back in daily use as norms flouted rampantly

Even as civic authorities claimed to have seized over 100 tonnes of banned plastic products state-wide since the ban was implemented on January 1, it is largely flouted by business establishments across the State. A look at the garbage generated at the annual Chennai Book Fair held at the YMCA grounds in Nandanam would reveal that a major chunk of waste continues to be bannedplastic products.

Violators cite reasons ranging from unavailability of viable alternative options to exhausting existing stock to defy the ban. Poongavanam, a flower seller in Besant Nagar, is getting rid of all the plastic covers she has in her shop, as and when she can. “Due to Pongal holidays, there have not been any raids by authorities. They say use banana leaves instead of these covers but one leaf costs almost Rs five or Rs 10. How can I, someone who is making just about a few hundred rupees a day, afford to spend so much on covers?” she asks.

Another shop keeper at the Abdul Razzak Market in Saidapet claims that he still has a huge stock of plastic covers which he is disposing of. “I am told that authorities are giving us time to exhaust the covers completely. Besides, customers still don’t bring their own bags,” he says.

Chennai Corporation officials, however, claim that all plastic items seized were manufactured before the ban and their use would soon end as there is a clamp down on production. One of the main reasons for delay in complete enforcement, officials claim, is because the government has not issued an order on the penalty for violating the ban. “We are just seizing without penalising the shop owners and users for the time being,” an official said.

On the other hand, over 2,000 small plastic making units in the State have been closed down. “Of the nearly 8,000 units, 2,000 small units closed. Most of the remaining manufacturers had shifted to manufacturing of over 50-micron plastic used for packing food items,” S Rakkappan, secretary of Tamil Nadu plastic manufacturers’ association, said.

The association, one of the main petitioners against the ban, has also moved the National Green Tribunal. The case will come up for hearing on January 23 and its members are hopeful that the tribunal will rule against the ban.