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After banning the use of polythene and plastic bags in the city, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the UT administration to ban the use of non-woven bags. These are coloured bags that give the appearance of being made from cloth, but has polythene content. When mixed with colour, these bags become even more hazardous for environment.

However, these bags are used in large numbers by shopkeepers, traders, manufacturers and suppliers across the city, especially after the polythene ban.

The UT administration had banned the use of these bags in 2015, but the order had not been implemented.

While hearing a case, RD Anand versus Chandigarh administration, the NGT had said on January 20, “There will be complete prohibition on the use of plastic, manufacturing, storing, or any kind of plastic carry bags, including non-woven material of polypropylene and non-biodegradable plastic bags in Chandigarh.”

Following these orders by the ‘Green’ Tribunal, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) secretary Danish Ashraf has directed all SDMs and district food and supply officers to implement the directions issued.

“We have already sent samples of non-woven bags for testing to know its contents,” Ashraf said.

Environment department director, Santosh Kumar said, “Coloured non-woven bags have been examined and it has been found that these bags are more harmful than polybags, as they can’t be recycled. Coloured bags are even more harmful.”

He appealed to residents to use cloth, paper or jute bags and added that manufacturers and suppliers using

bio-degradable carry bags will have to obtain a licence from the Central Pollution Control Board or any other government approved laboratory, the administration said.

Monica Sharma is a principal correspondent at Chandigarh and covers the UT administration. ...view detail

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