KARACHI, March 14: The Sindh environment department and the City District Government Karachi have joined hands in launching a crackdown on Thursday (March 15) on the manufacturers and sellers of the polythene bags of banned category, i.e. below 30 microns thickness.

Sources in the environment department said that since the rules under the recently introduced law, “The Sindh Prohibition of Manufacturing, Sale and Use of Polythene Bags-2006” were yet to be framed and notified, it was deemed appropriate to enforce the law under Section 144 CrPC.

Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternative Energy Dr Sagheer Ahmad said in a statement here on Wednesday that any act of manufacturing, sale and use of the banned category of polythene bags was a punishable under the law. The improper disposal of polythene bags has been a major factor contributing to the degradation of environment in the city. He said that imposition of ban was in the larger interest of the city and its people.

Meanwhile, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has also ordered a ban on the manufacturing of polythene bags of less than 30 micron thickness for 30 days in exercise of the power vested in him under Section 144 CrPc.

The improper disposal of the banned category of polythene bags, which do not dissolve easily, causes choking of sewerage lines and open nullahs/storm-water drains, etc., thus obstructing the flow of waste water and ultimately causing insanitation and unhygienic condition in the city. This has also been contributing to environmental degradation, says to the order issued by the nazim.

According to a source, as a follow up of the nazim’s order, DCO Karachi on Wednesday constituted five ‘enforcement teams’, one each for every defunct district of Karachi. Each team will comprise a DDO (Revenue), a sub-divisional police officer, an official of the Sindh Environment Protection Agency and an official of the Municipal Service Group of Offices, CDGK. The teams would be active from March 15, added the source.

The mechanism to deal with offenders, who may include the user, is yet to be known, but there is a consideration that the campaign should not cause panic among businessmen, traders, users, etc.

As an initial measure, the high-ups have decided not to deal with the offenders with an iron hand. Instead, the action would be confined to the confiscation of the banned product, said a source.

Dr Sagheer said that people should develop the habit of using cotton or paper bags to ensure an improved environment. He further stated that the government did not want to render anyone jobless, but at the same time it wanted not to compromise on the collective interest of individuals.

The relevant law prescribes a maximum prison term of three months and/or a fine up to Rs50,000 for an offender.

Not happy with the ban, the plastic bag manufacturers and traders said that action against black polythene bags could be held correct, but the inclusion of all types of polythene bags below 30 microns thickness could prove to be harmful to the business of over 1,000 small industrialists and more than 2,000 dealers/traders in the city.