The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Ban plastics completely’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 23, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

‘Ban plastics completely’

Staff Reporter

Delhi Government has itself proved to be the biggest abuser of the environment: BJP

NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan on Friday charged that even though two weeks have passed since the Delhi High Court passed an order banning use of poly bags in public places like markets and malls, the Delhi Government has still not enforced it.

“Poly bags made of virgin and recycled plastic containing dangerous chemicals continue to be in widespread use in all markets, shops, malls and even government outlets,” Dr. Vardhan said at a press conference here. He charged that the Delhi Government had itself proved to be the biggest abuser of the environment. “While crores of rupees have been spent on publicity campaigns over the past 10 years to show the concern of the Government for environment, particularly for the ‘Say no to plastic bags’ campaign, the regime has actually all this while served the interests of the ‘plastic lobby’,” he charged.

Stating that now even the court order was being overlooked, Dr. Vardhan along with Catholic Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao, Green Forum’s convenor Udayan Namboodiri and Chetanalaya director Father Susai Sebastian demanded an immediate and total ban on all kind of plastic bags in Delhi. “There is no excuse for permitting plastic bags to continue. They choke civic drains, destroy ecosystems and lead to death of pet animals including the sacred cow,” he said.

Urging people to revert to the use of “thailas” made of jute or cotton, Dr. Vardhan said Chetanalaya and Green Forum have a project to bring to Delhi thousands of jute bags made in West Bengal and market them through self-help groups. “It will go a long way in reducing pollution and poverty,” he stressed.

The BJP leader said that the Central Government had also been showing scant regard for the environment. “The Mother Dairy brings 10 lakh plastic pouches into the system every day. Milk should be sold either in bottles or people should be asked to buy from booths in their own containers. The Safal shops are also selling vegetables in poly bags,” Dr Vardhan demanded.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi

News Update

Stories in this Section