Jurisdiction row between civic body, TNPCB hits ban enforcement
A ban on plastic bags of size less than 40 microns is in place in Chennai, as it is around the country.
Chennai: A ban on plastic bags of size less than 40 microns is in place in Chennai, as it is around the country. This is no news. That the rule has largely remained on paper as far as Chennai is concerned is also not news.
A jurisdiction hindrance is in the way of the enforcement of the ban, officials said. "The jurisdiction problem is between the corporation and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board," said an official.
With as much as 450 tonnes of plastic wastes generated daily, Chennai is second only to Delhi. Under the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011, the Central Government banned the use of plastic carry bags of size less than 40 microns, yet it is plastic bags lesser than this size flooding the Chennai marketplace.
So, how serious is the Corporation with regards to the enforcement? Not much, judging by what officials had to say. The Pollution Control Board is the authority in the city to enforce the ban and take action on offenders. However, it lacks the work force to implement field-level action and entrusted the task with the corporation, an official said.
But Chennai corporation is facing severe shortage of staff. With as many as 75 vacancies yet to be filled for the post of sanitary inspectors, the corporation's lower-rung officers are stretched beyond their capacity.
As reported by DC, they are overloaded with work. "There is resistance among our staff. They are asking us not to burden them with more tasks," said a senior official. Also, when on a mission to arrest plastic proliferation, the staff gets questioned by traders on jurisdiction. "The best course of action is negotiating with the Pollution Control Board and gain jurisdiction entirely in the issue," an official said.
Traders oppose blanket ban on plastics, to take it up with CM
Expressing opposition to what they consider is the state government’s attempts to introduce blanket ban on plastic usage, trader bodies are taking the issue to the Chief Minister’s special cell.
The Federation of Tamil Nadu Trader Associations has, in a statement, said the Directorate of Town Panchayat officials, the agency in charge of enforcing plastic ban in districts other than Chennai, were penalising them going against the rules.
“The Central Government has banned the use of plastic carry bags less than 40 microns only. So, it is perfectly legal to use plastic bags more than 40 microns in size,” said A.M. Vikramaraja, state president of the Federation.
“In this situation, they are also flagging us down for using cups and plates made out of plastic that has not been banned as well. Sometimes, cases under criminal sections are booked and fines of up to Rs 1 lakh is levied. Even the shops are sealed,” he added.The officials should instead be checking the transport of plastics into the state and not victimise traders under the name of penalizing, Vikramaraja said.
However, joint director of town panchayats, S.M. Malaiyaman Thirumudi Kari, said that shops are not being sealed. “Our directive is to first spread awareness, through bit notices, orally and also through street plays and other such means,” he said. “We don’t even fine the public or traders for the first offence. Only repeat offenders are penalised and that too a very small fine amount that is collected,” he said.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
