Vegetables kept in foil in Devkali.
Ayodhya. The cleanliness of the city is being affected due to polythene and single use plastic. The reality of the ongoing campaign to clean the city since before Ram Lalla’s consecration is visible in the piles of polythene in the carts and shops. This same polythene is seen flying on the streets, roads, drains and garbage heaps of the city. Even after sweeping, it is seen spreading everywhere.
Since there is no ban on the sale of polythene, it is available at every shop. This is the reason why cloth bags are not becoming a habit of people. Single use plastic and polythene are being used without fear from city to village. From street vendors to small and big shopkeepers, most of the goods are sold in polythene bags. Customers also avoid carrying cloth bags with them when they go to the market for shopping. That too with the assurance that the shopkeeper will pack all the goods in polythene bags and deliver them.
There is no visible effect of this exercise
The effect of the campaign launched before the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya Municipal Corporation area to stop the use of polythene and single use plastic is no longer visible. In the beginning, strict action was taken including fines and other actions. To promote the use of cloth bags, the Municipal Corporation installed vending machines at many places. A two km area around the Ram temple was made a plastic regulated zone. Under this, the system of deposit refund system was implemented. Bar codes were installed on plastic and bottled goods sold in Ayodhya Dham. More than 20 refund centers were also created in the zone. But now due to lack of strictness, such efforts are proving ineffective.
Plastic is dangerous for environment and health
Single use plastic is extremely dangerous for the environment and health. They neither decompose nor can they be burnt. Their fragments release toxic chemicals into the environment. Which are dangerous for humans and animals. Single use plastic waste prevents rain water from seeping into the ground. This reduces the ground water level.
There is provision for fine along with punishment
Use of single use plastic is completely banned. There is a provision of fine and sending to jail for using it. According to the rules, if a person throws banned plastic in a river, road, lake or pond, he has to pay a fine of Rs 1000. If any organization works here, a fine of Rs 25 thousand will be imposed. There is a provision of six months in jail or a fine of Rs 25,000 for using and selling polythene or thermocol products. If the same mistake is made again, there can be a fine of Rs 1 lakh and a jail term of one year.
