Delhi carries on with plastic bags despite government ban

New Delhi: Seventeen months into the ban, Delhi seems to have lost the war against plastic bags.

The bags are back on the counters, not only in neighbourhood supermarkets, but in shopping malls across the city too.

The use and distribution of the ubiquitous plastic bags — which was banned in January 2009 — meant that almost everywhere in the city, with the exception of residential areas where biodegradable bags would be permitted, no plastic bags were allowed.

Those violating the ban were to face a fine of up to Rs100,000 (Dh7,984) or imprisonment of up to five years under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Immediately after the announcement, for fear of penalty and punishment, shopkeepers stopped giving plastic bags to consumers, with most owners displaying signs that they did not keep plastic bags, requesting buyers to carry their own bags.

Many started keeping jute or cloth bags in their shops in case customers didn't bring along a cloth bag.

But since these were priced at Rs10 or Rs5, few people were ready to pay for a carry bag. So, the ban remained, but only on paper.

While activists feel residents like to flout rules, they are not giving a clean chit to the government either. "The government has dragged its feet on the ban," environmentalist Ankita Khurana said.

"After the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas-based public transport a decade ago, which was one of Delhi's biggest environmental policy interventions in years, it has not been serious about the ban on plastic bags. The long-drawn case against the ‘plastic lobby' in the capital is dying a slow death," she said.

But traders who manufacture plastic bags say that an easy availability of plastic and difficulty in procuring adequate jute or paper bags makes them choose the former option, adding that they do not want to forego their flourishing business.

But what about saving the environment? Throwing the rule-book on the government's face, a die-hard violator of rules said: "First let the government ban supply of milk in plastic pouches."

Mother Dairy, one of the country's largest milk processors, with a network of more than 15,000 retail outlets and exclusive stores, has since the 1980s been supplying milk in thick plastic pouches of half a litre and one litre packs.

Thus, circulation of plastic bags continues in a formalised and organised manner in Delhi and the National Capital Region. Khurana said: "Imposing the plastic bag ban will never be easy until the government comes out strongly upon the violators. The more than 2,000-odd plastic manufacturers in the city have the backing of the 10,000-strong trader community, who refuse to comply with the directions.

"The first step the government will have to take is to close down illegal recycling units even if it means losing some votes..."

While outlets such as Khadi Gramodyog and Wengers, a famous pastry shop in Connaught Place, have completely stopped giving out plastic bags since the ban came into force, many other shopkeepers have begun stocking plastic bags in blatant violation of the ban.

Vipin Aggarwal, a grocer, said: "The customers are aware of the ban, but if they do not carry their own bags, I cannot take a chance. I can't be expected to lose business by turning them away. I hand over the items in plastic carry bags, although I also keep paper bags for the select few who adhere by the rules..."