The ban on metallic and plastic pouches for pan masala and gutkha since March 1 is hardly having any effect. As usual, the Govt. has hardly put any mechanism to implement the Act. The result is that it has enabled the shopkeepers to inflate the price, without any impact on sales. Thus neither the environment there is any impact on the environment – the main motive behind the ban; nor any on health – expected by product of the ban.
The notification specifically mentioned that civic agencies were to be made responsible for implementation of the ban. The Delhi State Govt. Environment department had written to MCD and NDMC to take necessary action. NDMC said it would initiate action soon, while MCD denied receiving any such direction, and instead suggested that the matter was probably under Delhi Police’s jurisdiction.
Let us hope that the civic agencies soon get their act together and start implementing the ban in its true spirit.
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