Letters: Bagful of solutions

This refers to the editorial “Banning plastic bags” (March 28). Enforcing a ban without providing for suitable, cheaper and viable alternatives will not give the desired result. In this regard, the argument put forward by manufacturers and traders that there is no equally inexpensive and convenient alternative needs to be appreciated. It is like banning spitting on the roads without providing spittoons at regular distances. Bags made of cloth, jute or paper or cane baskets would not only be costly, but will also be inconvenient. To carry a paper bag during the monsoon will hardly serve any purpose. Plastic bags are excellent for carrying documents, medical reports to and from clinics / hospitals, food, medicines and vegetables, small articles, books and other reading material and so on. Also, they are more handy. So the authorities should consider the use of degradable plastic.

The principal reason for banning polythene bags is that they block the drains and sewer lines during the monsoon. So why impose a blanket ban on their usage for all the 365 days? The ban may be applicable only during the monsoon. Also, besides plastic bags, other solid materials also block the drains. Going by this logic, all that is found in the drains needs to be banned. But you don’t have to burn the cot to kill the bed bugs. Tackling the drainage system and addressing the problem of water logging will be prudent.

Even if the ban is imposed, it will be difficult for the authorities to enforce it, given the ever-growing population. Moreover, it will be another tool to penalise defaulters and may be lead to bribery and corruption. The common man is more comfortable with plastic bags for their utility value. At the most, the ban can be imposed on plastic bags that are less than 50 microns.

Prem K Menon, Mumbai

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