BESTers,

With active petitioning, can UF be next to ban plastic bags?

Delhi government to ban plastic bags
The Delhi government has planned to ban all plastic bags starting
next week, with up to five years of imprisonment for those running
businesses using plastic bags.

The move is eco friendly but many businessmen are unhappy with
it.

Several people probably don't know whether they are committing a
crime when they carry a plastic bag. If you carry a plastic bag,
you may have to pay a lakh or spend five years in prison. That's
the new law that the Delhi government says it is ready to
enforce.

"We have sent the notification and will still give 10 to 12 days
to the traders. We won't fine them but don't say that there are no
options - there's jute, paper and cloth. So let it all settle down
and then when we find people violating it naturally they will be
penalized," said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The law comes under section five of the Environment Protection Act
of 1986. According to the act, usage, sale or storage of any kind
of plastic bags is forbidden. The new ban applies to five star
hotels, restaurants, dairies, fruits and vegetable outlets ands
all shopping malls.

Shopkeepers like Harish Malik are expected to use jute or paper
bags, both more expensive and therefore not welcome.

"If we shift from plastic, the cost will increase by four to five
times and ultimately the customers will have to bear the cost,"
said Harish.

So here comes the usual course of action.

"We will oppose this ban and go to the court. If the government
wants to start something new, then before implementing they should
provide alternatives," said Pravin Khandelwal.

But at least some Delhiites feel that being eco-friendly is worth
the extra expense overdue.

"Ninety per cent of the times people don't think about what they
are doing, but if it's made compulsory people will think. If every
shopper is giving paper bags then you are forced to use them,"
said Priyanka, a Delhi resident.

Now the big question is whether the Delhi government is prepared
to act on its word.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090080451&ch=1/18/2009%2012:44:00%20PM

--
Yelena Granovskaya
University of Florida
President of the BioEnergy and Sustainable Technology Society
Environmental Science
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