Hyderabad, August 6: The practice of selling carry bags which were freely available at retail outlets and malls before the plastic ban, has evoked mixed response, ranging from nonchalance to outrage.
“How does it solve the problem of preventing more plastic from being added to the system?” asks Nivedita Mukherjee, an IT professional who paid Rs 2 for a plastic bag at a Big Bazaar outlet, adding, “I would have preferred to buy a cloth bag if it was available.”
Substituting more of the same at a higher price is what the ban has brought into being. This is because the ban on plastic bags does not apply to those more than 40 microns thick, usually provided at major shopping malls. This has led to some establishments charging customers for the carry bags.
An attendant at the Hyderabad Central mall, who did not wish to be named, said none of the customers seemed to think twice before shelling out Rs 5 for each bag.
When asked about the move, the representative of one retail chain said, “It is GHMC’s order that makes it mandatory for us to charge for the bags. It is a measure to discourage customers. We understand it is a small price to pay for them but the extra money charged is not a profit-making scheme.” Those working for the cause of environment seem to differ.
Jasveer Jairat, convener of Saving Our Urban Lakes, a city-based NGO observes, “Customers pay an insignificant amount for a plastic bag than a cloth or paper bag which are more often than not unavailable at malls. The strategy is self-defeating. The pricing of polythene carry bags should be increased and alternatives such as cloth or paper bags should be available at cheaper rates to bring about a true change in mindset.”
Nirbhay Sen, a Hyderabadi says, “Our aim should be to reduce the consumption of bags. The dioxins produced by burning plastic still remains a threat, whether the bag is bought or available for free. We should look to reuse and recycle bags, whether they are made of cloth, plastic or paper.”
—Agencies