No Polythene Please -

JHANSI Shows the Way!

OLYTHENE, chemically a non-degradable polymer of ethylene, is socially an environmental disaster. It has proliferated into our daily life due to its ease of use, light weight, waterproof nature and low cost. Polythene bags lying in garbage heaps are an eye-sore having serious environmental implications. Polythene ultimately reaches the drains which often cause blockage of sewage resulting in flooding of streets. Quite often cows and stray animals try to tear open the polybags in search of food and ingest them. People also burn polythene which releases toxic gases and have ill effects on health.

    Jhansi was facing the same situation. To respond to this problem the young eco-brigade of CLEAN-India took up the challenge and got into action. Since the past few years they have been campaigning against the use of polythene in Jhansi and due to their persistent efforts six out of seven manufacturing factories producing polythene with thickness less than 20 microns were banned last year. This has undoubtedly decreased the extent of polythene use in the city but could not stop it as there was ban on polythene manufacturing but not on its use. CLEAN-India team convinced the local bodies for enacting a government order. An official order was passed on  September 10, 2006 according to which polythene below 20 microns in thickness was prohibited and any body found violating the law would be fined Rs100 per day.

To publicise this order CLEAN-India students campaigned from  September 11-16, 2006 in different parts of the city with support of Municipal Corporation, Jhansi and Regional office UP Pollution Control Board, Jhansi,  against the use of banned polythene bags. They also exchanged them with paper bags from local shopkeepers. The campaign was in the form of a rally, skit, personal discussions with shopkeepers and vendors, etc. The main aim of the campaign was to bring about an attitudinal change in all sections of the society and efforts of CLEAN-India finally bore fruit.  q          

Divya Sharma
dsharma@devalt.org

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