Vinod C. Dixit
Fadnavis Government deserves a big kudos for imposing ban on using Plastic across the Maharashtra state from March 18, 2018. Every year, humans produce nearly 280 million tons of plastic of which much of that plastic ends up in the environment, harming marine life and other ecosystems.
As the world’s population migrates to cities, the bleak reality of climate change becomes increasingly clear and the need to create sustainable communities become paramount. Destruction of forests is to be taken as destruction of the state, and reforestation an act of rebuilding the state and advancing its welfare. Due to the children being busy on internet & mobiles, they are more aware but we need to make them active participants. A tree would be ideal but even a small shrub can help the environment. It is estimated that plants can hold a large mass of water in their roots. At the same time, a ban should be a gradual and long-term objective. The loss of tree cover to make furniture would have a more serious impact on the environment than the use of plastics. More research needs to be done on using plastic waste for productive purposes.
Plastic is widely used in our day to day life. Starting from a pen to a polythene bag in which we carry fruits and books are forms of plastic. Plastic bags are really nothing but a product of laziness and poor planning. Plastic bags find their origin in a variety of places. Non-grocery retail stores and restaurants are significant contributors, but there is no greater impact than the plastic bag waste that is generated by grocery stores.
The widespread use of plastic carry bags undoubtedly poses a serious problem. With global warming on the rise, we have to do every bit that we can to save the environment. The major chemicals that go into the making of plastic are highly toxic and pose a serious threat to living beings of all species on earth. While there should be a strict ban on plastics, considering its ill-effects on the human beings and the environment, people should desist from accepting material in plastic bags. It is the moral duty of people to refrain from using plastic bags. While educating people on the need to shun plastic, we also need to make available cheaper, safer, durable alternatives. Cloth and jute bags need to be attractively priced, easily available. Authorities alone cannot be blamed for the plastic pollution.
One more reason for the ban is that cows, which are sacred in India, often asphyxiate from trying to eat the bags. The ingestion of plastic from plastic bags chokes the stomach of cows. Not only cows, but one day this plastic will kill us.
There are many who are against the ban on plastic bags and there is a reason because they believe it is infringing on their rights, creating an inconvenience, and adding an additional expense to their shopping. If every individual resolves not to use plastic bags, our cities would be much better places to live in. Unless we honestly implement all ways to eliminate plastic, its ill-effects will continue to be with us. The little that we can do without much effort from our side is to say “NO” to plastic bags. Now say GOOD BYE to plastic.
