April 28, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 21, 1429

KARACHI, April 27: Bureaucratic lethargy and the lack of political will have led to a situation where the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) and the city district government Karachi (CDGK) appear to have virtually lost the battle against polythene bags that was energetically launched over a year ago.

Environmentalists accuse the environmental and health safety watchdogs of having made too many compromises.

Through an ordinance, the Sindh government imposed a ban on the manufacturing, sale and use of polythene bags of less than 30 microns’ thickness in early 2006. However, a subsequent crackdown was possible only in March 2007, when Sepa and CDGK took joint action against offenders on the grounds that the improper disposal of polythene bags had proved a major factor in the degradation of the city environment.

Armed with specially-delegated magisterial powers, division district officers (revenue) were directed to launch a campaign against the so-called ‘shoppers’ – being non-biodegradable, they choke sewerage lines storm water drains while having an adverse impact on the aesthetic and hygiene levels of the city. Under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedures Code, teams of officials from Sepa, the city government, police and revenue departments confiscated considerable quantities of the prohibited bags from wholesalers, retailers, vendors etc.

Much to the citizens’ dismay, however, the leniency shown towards the offenders has caused a return to the earlier situation and plastic bags litter the environment in large quantities, in addition to providing breeding grounds for bacteria, mosquitoes and flies.

Environmentalists accuse Sepa and the CDGK of bureaucratic lethargy and the lack of commitment, and say that the watchdog bodies made far too many compromises. However, they also point out that the blame is shared by citizens who failed to support the government’s move and persisted in using plastic bags when they could easily have switched to more durable, re-usable bags. A conservationist pointed out that while the plastic menace ought by rights be sent to landfill sites or incinerated, they are more commonly just dumped in open areas or end up collected in water bodies.

Polythene and vote banks

A ban on the sale and use of polythene bags was last imposed in the city during the first week of February this year. Imposed by the Sindh Home Department on the CDGK’s request under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedures Code, the ban was meant to be in place for 30 days. This time, the manufacturing, sale and use of polythene bags under 300 microns’ thickness was restricted, as a result of which the production of almost all kinds of plastic bags was rendered virtually impossible.

Observers pointed out, however, that no application of the move was seen on the ground.

In this context, a source in the CDGK said that this year’s ban was imposed at a time when the city was preparing for general elections. “Assessing that one of the main political parties in the run would have to face criticism for causing further unemployment, the authorities found it viable to drop the plastic bag issue,” he told Dawn, referring to the many banners put up by polythene bag manufacturers and marketers in the run-up to the elections, promising votes and support to that party alone.

Dawn has also learnt that the impetus behind the campaign in the CDGK has lessened in view of the fact that citizens are already facing an unprecedented economic crisis and it would be inadvisable to add another aspect of discomfort.

Staff shortages and rules

However, a source close to the initiative said that Section 144 CrPc could not be enforced against offenders since both the CDGK and Sepa were short of the relevant staff.

“Given that the CDGK is already engaged in a battle against traders who have jacked up prices, including milk vendors, it is not possible to divert the attention of the limited numbers of division district officers (revenue) towards the polythene bag problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, a source in Sepa said that no set of rules had yet been framed under the 2006 polythene bags ordinance (which was later enacted by the provincial assembly). As a result, Sepa was obliged to look towards the CDGK’s municipal services group and division district officers (revenue), who could take action against offenders and hand them over to the police. He added that another reason behind the poor success of the drive against polythene bags was that there were some technical shortcomings and a review of the thickness criteria of marketable bags was pending.

“Despite the lapse of a considerable period of time, the rules that needed to be introduced in line with the prohibition of polythene bags act could not be passed on to the authorities for vetting since there is a plan to extend the prohibition from bags of under 30 microns’ thickness to those of 90 microns as well,” he said.

Authorities promise action

When contacted by Dawn, Sepa director-general Ali Ahmed Lund categorically denied that the preparation of rules pertaining to plastic bags had ever been put on the backburner and said that that the government continued to regard the bags as a menace.

He told Dawn that without waiting any further to review the micron factor, the Sepa would now move the authorities to frame and introduce the rules in line with the existing legislation. “After the appointment of 15 to 20 officers, about whom a request has already been made before the public services commission, Sepa will be in a position to monitor offenders against the environment and implement the relevant rules, including the anti-polythene bags provision,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the additional executive district officer (revenue) Karachi, Matanat Ali Khan, told Dawn that if the ban on the production, use and sale of plastic bags was extended once more through Section 144 CrPC, the DDOs and mukhtarkars in the towns would be reactivated to raid factories and shops in order to check the manufacture, sale and use of the offending bags. “In addition to the confiscation of the plastic bags, the relevant law prescribed a maximum prison term of three months and/or a fine of up to Rs50,000,” he added.

Unhappy with the government’s provisions, however, manufacturers and traders dealing with plastic bags said that the increase in the thickness of the banned bags to up to a hundred microns would further damage the livelihoods of hundreds of small industrialists, dealers and traders. “It would constitute an attempt shut down the plastic bags’ business in the province,” they stated.