Seized polythene, unwanted community as JMC and PCB fights, who will dispose it

Seized polythene, unwanted community as JMC and PCB fights, who will dispose it
Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 14: In absence of proper place to dispose off the seized polythene bags in Jammu, it has become an unwanted commodity as both the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Pollution Control Board (PCB) have shed their responsibility, how to deal with it. Despite the ban on the use of polythene bags still it is used fearlessly at a large scale. The pollution control department in collaboration with Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is not taking any strict action except the fake raids at some markets against the culprits. According to the sources, the seized polythene bags again come in the market through illegal process with the help of departmental support under full official patronage. The concerned department is not having any disposal plant in the Jammu for destroying polythene. Government of India has completely banned the use of polythene bags on August, 9 2009 keeping in view its ill effects but still it can be seen easily here and there at the heaps of litter and in domestic and commercial places like houses and shops. Polythene bags are non-biodegradable substance that is used by the majority of Ugandans as packing materials. Despite the fact that they are cheap as well as light, they are hazardous to all living beings ranging from plants to human beings. These polythene bags are environmentally unfriendly considering the time taken for their decomposition. As a result of this time span they can cause further problems like blocking water penetration into the soil which in turn affects food growth and development. When contacted Health Officer JMC Dr. Anwar Choudhary about this matter he said that they dump the seized polythene bags in their godown and send it to the pollution control department but the said department refused to accept the polythene.