UP polythene ban: Ghaziabad, Noida show the way

“We had been reading reports about it and on Thursday a popular retail outlet curtly told us to come  in with our bags as they would not provide plastic bags,” said Vishal Kumar, a resident of Kaushambi on Delhi-Ghaziabad border. The district authorities, too, conducted massive drive to implement the ban.

Seeking to protect the environment and public health, the UP government in December last year decided to ban the manufacture, import, purchase and storage of all kinds of plastic carry bags across the state, a month after Allahabad High Court’s direction to prohibit its usage. The Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the state cabinet decided to ban plastic carry bags in view of its negative impact on people’s health as well as the environment. 

The district administrations were asked to implement the ban following which an awareness drive was conducted from the beginning of the year. The authorities later announced that they would strictly enforce the ban and initiate penal action against those using plastic bags. Following the ban, no shopkeeper, wholesaler or retailer will be able to use, store or purchase plastic carry bags for eatable or non-eatable items.

The residents of both the cities not just welcomed the decision but came forward to support the cause. Since early morning, the residents were seen avoiding plastic bags. Markets of Trans-Hindon area, Ghaziabad city, Noida and Greater Noida reported almost zero- use of the banned material. “As the government has banned polythene which is the major polluter, we have been motivating people not to use this. We have asked residents to use their own bags and we are getting good response from them,” said an RWA office bearer from trans-Hindon area.

In Noida, Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association (FoNRWA), reported a similar campaign to sensitize city residents. “Earlier the residents were fed-up with the order but now they have taken it positively. If things go well, the city will be plastic-free soon,” said NP Singh, president of FoNRWA.