HYDERABAD, Dec 1: Speakers at a seminar have described use of polythene bags a threat to human health and environment and a major cause for choking sewerage and drainage system. They supported the district government’s initiative to ban manufacturing and sale of bags from Jan 1.
The seminar on “Brutal use of polythene bags leading to ecological disaster and resulting in fatal health hazard” was organized by the district health office at the Sindh Museum here on Thursday.
Speakers said there should be no compromise on lives of millions of people for the sake of employment of a few thousand people who could switch over to manufacturing paper and cloth bags.
District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil, who presided over the seminar, said the initiative had been taken in the interest of people.
He asked manufactures to sell the existing stock and admitted that their business would be affected to some extent. He urged them to start manufacturing paper bags, saying this business would flourish soon.
Mr Jamil said the district government was also addressing the issue of water supply but it would take time.
MPA Aslam Pervez said chemical ingredients contained in plastic bags also destroyed fertile agricultural lands and plantation. He also pointed towards factories polluting environment in the Site area. He said even chemicals used in crops’ production caused health problems because such crops were pre-matured.
Nominated District Naib Nazim Zafar Rajput gave an assurance that new local body representatives would come up to expectations of people and would strive to ensure a clean and pollution-free environment in Hyderabad.
He said that despite knowing its bad effects, people usually threw plastic bags on roads.
DCO Hyderabad Mohammad Hussain Syed said people should study advantages and disadvantages of use of plastic bags.
Noted academician Prof Qavi Ahmad Khan stressed the need for banning sale of mainpuri and stopping quacks’ business in the city.
He called upon the district government to improve the education system and close tuition centres.
Sindh health service director general Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi supported the ban on plastic bags.
Sindh Environmental Protection Agency regional administrative in-charge Kishanchand Magwana said life span of plastic bags was up to 50 years and it contributed to every kind of pollution.
He said plastic contained substances like aromatic benzene, polyvinyl compounds and dyes which were carcinogenic in nature. He said the EPA had launched its first campaign against plastic bags in 1999.
Hyderabad Development Authority director general Tahir Ahmad said use of plastic bags was a major factor for choking sewerage network.
The EDO, health, Dr Nazar Junejo, said the health department would launch a 10-day awareness campaign about hazardous effects of plastic bags. He said health workers would distribute hand bills among housewives about effects of plastic bags.
Ban to stay: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has made it clear that the decision to ban manufacturing and marketing of polythene bags from Jan 1 in the district will not be reversed, reports our Bureau.
Talking to a delegation of the Hyderabad Plastic Bags Association here on Wednesday, he said the purpose of the ban was not to disturb the business of any particular group but to provide health and environmental protection to people of Hyderabad and ensure sustainability of infrastructure through smooth functioning of the drainage network.
He said it had been medically proved that use of plastic bags caused fatal diseases. He added that it also chocked drainage network. He said billions of rupees were being spent on revamping the drainage system and the district government could not put this investment and health of people at risk for the sake of a group of people.
Mr Jamil asked manufacturers and retailers to cooperate with the district government in discouraging manufacturing and marketing of polythene bags.
