Thursday, 22 April 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Even after the Uttarakhand Government reinstated the plastic ban in February which was earlier lifted to provide essential services to the needy during the lockdown last year, there is still no considerable change in single-use plastic usage by the public in Dehradun.
In the year 2019, the use of single-use plastic had decreased considerably in the city and most of the roadside vendors, shopkeepers and small businessmen were not using them, at least openly, due to the fear of being penalised for the same by the officials of the municipal corporation. However, this fear has almost vanished among the vendors and the public in the city as the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has not taken any major action on this matter since the government reinstated the plastic ban. The officials stated that they did start an awareness campaign in the city to spread awareness among the locals and local vendors but it got hindered due to the recent surge in Covid-19 positive cases. According to the chief municipal health officer, Dr Kailash Joshi, the corporation is aware of the plastic issue but due to the critical times, the MCD is currently more focused on providing its facilities to Covid affected areas like containment zones besides maintaining other sanitation facilities in the city.
The corporation is still using audio messages and some digital platforms to spread awareness against the plastic use but the people also need to step up and understand their responsibility as responsible citizens, stated Joshi. Some officials also said that as per the recent State government orders, everyone including district administration, police and pollution control board is responsible for restricting the use of single-use plastic and only the MCD should not be held responsible to manage plastic ban in the city.
Talking about the issue, Nature Science Initiative scientist Soumya Prasad stated that since Covid-19 cases are increasing exponentially in the city, the authorities should be more focussed on ensuring the implementation of the plastic ban as the Covid-19 virus remains active for several days on a plastic surface. More consumption of single-use plastic means more ways to spread the virus that might lead to serious damage to public health in the long run, opined Prasad. She added, “Increased plastic waste also leads to choked drains during the monsoon season.
It also assists in mosquitoes’ breeding that causes malaria and dengue. So, the proper implementation of the plastic ban would solve several other issues in the city too besides environmental problems.” She said that the municipal corporation should use alternatives to spread awareness among locals amid the pandemic rather than postponing the campaign. Social activist and founder of Social Development for Communities (SDC) foundation, Anoop Nautiyal also stated that the surge in the consumption of single-use plastic during the pandemic is a global issue. He said that though it is understandable that the MCD might be facing difficulties in ensuring the implementation of the plastic ban, it must use alternatives to spread awareness among the locals of the city through various organisations and digital platforms.
