Plastic waste as explained by the scientists is a synthetic solid material formulated from natural gas and oil. Since the time plastic was invented, it has become a significant part of our lives. On one hand where plastic provides an easy option to carry stuff, it is equally harmful considering how it affects our health and can be seen littered on the land especially near water sources.

Lethal substances

Different sorts of plasticizers, pigments, antioxidants, colourants and heavy metals are used for manufacturing polythene bags and these bags take centuries to break down. Besides this, excessive use of polythene carry bags can cause diseases such as cancer, heart enlargement and degeneration of neurons etc.

Various polythene bags leach out different lethal chemicals which are enumerated below:

•        Leads from Black polythene carry bags.
•        Chromium through Red polythene carry bags.
•        Copper through Blue polythene carry bags.
•        Salt of Barium from Green polythene carry bags.

Heaps of dirt

The dumps of plastic waste has become pervasive in the state and can be seen floating in the nullahs. Especially during monsoon season, the situation worsens resulting in waterlogging near Science College area and multiple other locations. It is a matter of grave concern that despite the imposition of ban on the polythene carry bags within the territorial limits of the State vide SRO-182 dated 18/6/2008, one can easily spot them almost everywhere.

Are we destroying our beautiful surroundings with this plastic menace and creating a lethal environment for ourselves?

Markets are flooded with polythene bags and the prevailing situation is nothing but a mockery of the government ban which has never been implemented.

Health implications

Plastic bags entering the food chain has serious health implications and it is important to tackle this problem at the earliest. Recycling is definitely a better option but talking in terms of facts most of the waste end up getting dumped in the canals and rivers. The clogged drains are the consequence of the same problem. No matter how badly we deny the fact but birds getting strangled on a bag or animals choking themselves to death owing to plastic consumption are a common sight. Very open areas are required for the disposal of such waste materials which is quite difficult to find at times. The other issues involve deterioration of soil fertility with the deposition of plastic waste. The clogging of the drainage system leads to savage situation which can often prove as a cause of epidemic. And percolation of rain water is also interrupted by the plastic waste.

Alternatives

People at their end need to act responsibly and must opt for eco-friendly and biodegradable options like paper bags, jute bags etc. Indeed our government took a bold step by banning polythene bags but at the end the efforts have turned futile as the rules made were never implemented on the grass root level. A steep tax on the manufacturing of plastic bags and its import can ensure cutting down on the use of these non-bio-degradable products.

This embarrassing situation can be changed to save our state from becoming an unhygienic and ugly place only by making ourselves a little aware about the basic issues like environment pollution caused by these plastic bags. Moreover, the repercussions can also be averted if the ban is implemented in letter and spirit.

Hopes are high from the government as recently Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Chaudhary Lal Singh has pledged to ban polythene bags in the state especially at tourist places and gave statements to mull over the laws to deal with this polythene menace. With such steps if implemented in both letter and spirit, we can expect to bring our city to the world arena as a clean and beautiful city of temples.