Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has miserably failed to implement Central norms to check the use of banned poly bags in the smart city to the detriment of citizens’ general health.
In its 2016 notification, the Union Ministry of Environment has made specific provisions to reduce the detrimental effects of polythene carry bags of less than 50 micron thickness. But the city business community has turned a deaf ear to it and the authorities have made it look like a non-existent issue.
Going by the 2016 BMC data, 42 tonne of plastic was generated daily which makes it to an annual total of 15,330 tonne. The appalling data says 8.5 tonne of daily generated plastic remains littered all around.
Environment activist JK Panigrahi said, “Plastic releases harmful chemicals and toxins into the surrounding soil, which then seeps into the ground water affecting the ecosystem and posing risks to the living being. Also, when people throw away poly bags containing food stuff, animals consume them which create problems for them.” 
“It is more problematic for a city like Bhubaneswar where we face water-logging every monsoon. When people litter these poly bags in the open, they cause blockages in the drains,” he said.
Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) officials said they had directed the civic body to take steps in this regard but the civic body has not done its part.
“We have also requested the BMC to completely ban the use of polythene bags but they won’t do it,” said, OSPCB regional officer HB Panigrahi.
When contacted, BMC officials said they were unaware of all the guidelines but now as it has come to them, they would implement them. They assured that very soon they would issue notification in this regard and the traders could apply online too.
A top BMC official said, “A resolution has been passed in the corporation meeting to start registration of all establishments giving polythene carry bags to their customers. The vendors will be charged a fee of Rs 4,000 a month and will be required to display specifications of the plastic carry bags issued at the outlet. If they violate the norms a fine of Rs 2,000 will be levied and their licence may be cancelled.”
However, when asked about a total ban on polythene bags, civic body officials parried the question.
Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim have been declared polythene-free. Civic bodies like Sambalpur and Jharsuguda in the state have also banned the use of poly bags, but the Capital city is yet to follow the suit.
Kuldeep Singh, OP
