Sir,
Plastic materials,especially the plastic bags are commonly used by the supermarkets, grocery stores and even by the fruit and vegetable vendors who offer them as free alongwith the sold material to the consumers. People too insist on the shopkeepers to provide them plastic bags as they are handy ,durable and light to carry.But most people are not aware of the fact that plastic bags are non biodegradable and hence an environmental hazard. They litter the areas where they are thrown and their disposal is a major problem. According to studies,one million sea birds and one lac mammals are killed across the world annually due to plastics.
Thus, the need of the hour is to impose a total ban across the country on the use of plastic including plastic bags and disposable plastic materials such as glasses,plates, trays etc.People must be made aware of the harmful effects of plastic bags and they must be encouraged to use the materials such as jute/ cloth bags, disposable plates/ bowls such as Doona pattal in parties and functions,which are made from tree leaves which are environmentally friendly and which, when disposed decompose and turn into manure.Shopkeepers and vendors too must be made aware about the benefit of using cloth and jute bags for carryng materials as they are ecofriendly and don’t pose any threat to the environment.Not only will it help a lot to check environmental pollution,it will also provide employment to thousands of people in the villages.People must also be motivated to celebrate the festival of lights in an ecofriendly and safe manner.All these steps will also help women to earn their living while sitting at home and prevent the suicides of farmers who can supplement their income by taking to such business as pottery and making and marketing ecofriendly disposable plates,bowls and other things and thus,helping to make this planet cleaner and better place to live in.
Yours etc….
Ankita Sharma,
Housing Colony, Udhampur