Srinagar, July 12: As World Paper Bag Day was celebrated on Friday, the rampant use of polythene in Jammu and Kashmir continues with little or no check from the authorities.
World Paper Bag Day is celebrated every year on July 12 to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of using paper bags over plastic bags. However, in J&K, the use of polythene bags is widespread despite multiple bans issued over the years.
Sources say that although the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been conducting anti-polythene drives to implement the High Court’s directive to ban polythene, the authorities at large have failed to resolve the issue.
Mohammad Ashraf, a researcher in environmental studies, said paper bags are commonly used as shopping carrier bags and for packaging some consumer goods outside the country.
“In Kashmir, people prefer polythene over paper bags. People here have less knowledge about the benefits of paper bags. Outside India, people use paper bags to carry a wide range of products, from groceries, glass bottles, clothing, books, toiletries, electronics, and various other goods, and they also function as a means of transport in day-to-day activities,” he added.
In 2009, the government imposed a ban in the state of Jammu and Kashmir on the use of polythene carry bags under SRO-122, issued under Section 17 of the Jammu and Kashmir Non-Biodegradable Material (Management, Handling, and Disposal) Act.
However, according to SMC officials, the anti-polythene squad occasionally inspects and raids different areas of Srinagar city and destroys huge quantities of banned polythene bags from various vegetable and fruit vendors.
Meanwhile, in 2011, the Environmental Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly directed a strict ban on polythene bags in the state and stressed the importance of launching a public awareness campaign to educate people about the hazards of using polythene.
