Srinagar, Jan 31: Despite ban on polythene bag usage, the non-biodegradable lot continues to be in use everywhere from shops to street vendors.
 Last year the government enforced a ban on the polythene, making the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and the Pollution Control Board as the enforcing agencies in the City.
 The ban had worked for some time but now the polythene, as per the complainants, is again in use.
 Consumers say the ban wasn’t possible unless its import to the City is prevented.
  “The polythene can be seized on Srinagar-Jammu highway for better enforcement of the ban,” said Ali Muhammad Jan of Rajbagh.
 Consumers who carry the bags plead the ban be enforced at the selling point.
 “Authorities should take action against them( shopkeepers),” said a consumer.
 Officer on Special Duty, SMC, Manzoor Ahmad said there was no “proper nodal authority” to enforce the ban.
 On checking of the imports, he said it wouldn’t be feasible for the SMC to lay a trap on the Srinagar –Jammu highway.
 Moreover, the SMC is facing disposal problem, he said.
 “When the corporation seizes huge quantity of polythene, there is a problem associated with its disposal,” the official said.
 However, SPCB officials said the department was trying its best to enforce the ban adding that the disposal system was well in place.
 “Hundreds of quintals of polythene have been seized by PCB,” the official said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST