Plastics: BBMP gets cracking

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Inspections are being carried out in plastic production units and the shops selling plastic within the BBMP limits, and the offenders are being fined. BBMP Marshals are also visiting shops in the city to create awareness regarding the single-use plastic ban.

From July 1, the central government has put a blanket ban on plastic products across India, and the Karnataka government is taking measures to implement the law.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board also held a special meeting with the BBMP Marshals to train them regarding the plastic ban. Antony James, marshal supervisor, east zone, said, “We were taught how to take the right action in the meeting. And we were made aware about the penalty and under which Act should include the manufacturing, and retail units are closed if they are using illegal plastic. We were asked to visit shops in the city for inspection.”

He also added that Marshals are going to different shops in the city and educating people about the impact of plastic waste. “The main idea right now is to make people aware of the environmental hazards of plastic. In Karnataka, the law for ban on single-use plastic was since 2016. We used to do surprise inspections in 2019, but later we stopped. But now, after the central government has mandated the plastic ban, we have become more alert.”

The Joint Commissioner of Solid Waste Management has asked all the zonal officers to effectively enforce the ban and end the use of banned plastic in the city. In all the zones of BBMP, a team consisting of a zonal marshal supervisor, division marshal supervisor, medical officer, and marshals visit the shops and inform vendors not to sell the banned plastic.

“There are around seven marshals in every team to look after one division. Right now, we are not visiting any apartments. But if the pollution board or BBMP instructs us, we will start inspecting apartments also,” James informed.

Major cause of flooding

Urban experts said the plastic waste was a major reason for flooding in Bengaluru. They said that plastic products clog the storm water drains during rain, leading to flooding of low-lying areas in the city. They said that steps such as the ban on plastic bottles, plastic bags and other plastic products would go a long way in tackling floods in the city.

Environmentalist Dr A.N. Yellappa Reddy said, “Every time it rains in Bengaluru, you can see floods everywhere. These small plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and flow into lakes and drains. During the rains, the drains, which are supposed to drain out the excess water into lakes, get clogged with garbage and plastic waste.”

Urban flooding impacts Bengaluru in many ways. Beruj Swastik, an urban planner from Urban Landscape Design Studio in Bengaluru, said, “Bengaluru needs a proper system for waste disposal. Poor drainage and sewage systems are indeed an important cause of urban flooding. The ban on plastic is a good move by the government, and it will help the environment and hopefully reduce urban flooding.”