AGARTALA, September 10 (TIWN):While appreciation comes for enforcement against plastic carry bags weight less than 40 micron across Tripura, it has left several questions unanswered rather evoked reaction over the failure of Agartala Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) waste management.According to official record, in 2004 the state government had for the first time banned the plastic carry bags less than 20 micron when leading private research organisation and advocacy group of Tripura ARPAN released a comprehensive study report on indiscriminate littering.The then Science, Technology and Environment Minister Pabitra Kar had taken a serious exception after the report of poly bag use was published. Appreciating the argument of ARPAN, Kar had directed the department to enforce complete ban on use of thin plastic carry bags until AMC set out scientific management plan.In 2013, after assuming office, incumbent Science, Technology and Environment Minister Bijita Nath, reiterated half of the idea of Mr Kar but failed to understand the most important part of management of waste.

Unless management system is not streamlined properly and scientifically why only thin plastic; entire non-degradable wastes including e-waste and hard plastic will also cause a serious problem to the environment.

Where AMC can’t manage the plastic waste properly because of it’s technical limitation, how banning of plastic carry bags weigh less than 40 micron will help us to clean up the menace except providing a cheap space of publicity to the left front government.

Yes, it may happen with Manik Sarkar or Bijita Nath or for that matter any member of the cabinet due to their academic barrier but how come, the top scientists of the department and qualified bureaucrats endorsed the half-headed idea of the minister or cabinet.

Interesting, Tripura is not put complete ban on plastic carry bags, pouches, packets and plastic packages; so obvious question raises, what is the management plan of plastic waste in Tripura or AMC, which are allowed to use – answer is nothing. 

Then why only thin carry bag was targeted – question is unattended all across. Only to say, thin poly bags can’t be recycled. Again question comes, does Tripura have recycling unit for any plastic waste? No, we don’t have any such industry. 

So, what makes difference in weight of plastic waste?

In this context, it is better to ban all plastic items and even the branded products like Britannia biscuit packets, edible engine oil, cheeps, chocolates and all food products and household items in plastic pack. But it is not possible and feasible – then to develop management plan of action without such half-headed adhoc solution. 

After issuing notification of banning poly bags in February last with approval of the state cabinet referring instances of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim like states, the poly bag traders challenged the order in High Court.

High Court also upheld the decision of the government in banning plastic carry bags below 40 micron considering the environmental hazard what government argued. 

Well, now government has launched anti-poly bag drives in main markets and almost 80 kg of thin plastic bags were seized in past two days.

The enforcement team announced to continue seizure till recovery of all the stocks in Tripura. Unfortunately, they could not ensure that no more poly bags will enter in Tripura anyway.

Tripura does not have any poly-bag manufacturing unit but it appears that the state has been consuming more than 500 kg of poly-bags every month. But the used carry bags are littered into storm water drains and waterbodies or mixed up with kitchen garbage because of the failure of AMC.