Despite ban, administration fails to stop use of polythene bags in Panchkula
Plastic bags openly being used in Sectors 9, 10, 11, 12A and even weekly Apni Mandis
Despite being recently pulled up by Punjab and Haryana high court, the administration has failed to deter the use of polythene bags in the city. A reality check revealed that polythene bags were openly being used in Sectors 9, 10, 11, 12A and even weekly Apni Mandis.
According to a state notification, all the local authorities including the municipal corporation, market committee, sub-divisional magistrate, officials of the pollution control department, tehsildar, and other wings were instructed to regularly maintain the ban on the use of polythene bags. However, the frequency of challans issued against violators are far too less to create fear among them.
According to data shared by the administration in the high court on May 15, only five challans were issued by the secretary market committee and 10 challans by the municipal corporation in the last one month, an average of which is not even one challan a day.
Sector-12 resident Rakesh Aggarwal said last week chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar specifically directed all administrative officials to take appropriate action against the use of polythene bags in order to protect the environment.
However, officials are yet to conduct a public drive for awareness as well as a regular exercise of issuing challans.
“Till the time officials do not come out of their rooms and take stock of the matter on ground, things will not improve,” he said.
Subhash Papenja, a Sector-16 resident, said the city had several active resident welfare associations which could be involved in an exercise to make Panchkula polythene free.
18 CHALLANS ISSUED IN UT
An anti-polythene drive was conducted in the market area of Sectors 32 and 35. During the drive, 18 challans amounting to Rs 36,000 were issued to violators. Approximately, 10kg of unwoven carry bags and polythene bags were seized by staff and the same were handed over to the garbage processing plant in Sector 25. More such raids are likely to be conducted in the near future.