Single-use plastic ban faces challenges in Visakhapatnam

Despite challenges, Visakhapatnam struggles to enforce single-use plastic ban, with some success in rythu bazaars.

Despite several cases being reported, the ban on single-use plastic in Visakhapatnam appears to be not achieving the desired results. Except in areas like rythu bazaars, it appears that the use of plastic (less than 120 microns) is seen openly at fish and vegetable markets, weekly shandies (santha), hawking points and even in Poona Market.

S.K. Asha, a resident of Gayatri Nagar in PM Palem, said, “Recently I have noticed heaps of single-use plastic items piled up at the beaches and canals. If this continues like this, it will become problematic during the monsoon season starting next month (June). Moreover, this single-use plastic is used by street and roadside vendors. We should not blame those vendors, it is the responsibility of consumers like us not to take such items from them in such bags. At the same time, the authorities should take strict action against the suppliers and manufacturing units of such banned plastic materials.”

Andhra Pradesh Federation of RWAS associate president K.S.R. Murthy said, “We are creating awareness among apartment residents not to use banned plastic. Now we are making it a serious issue in the next meetings and gatherings. We have also told the apartment residents to take jute bags to markets like rythu bazaars, and not to take products from the banned plastic materials.”

Gopalapatnam Rythu Bazaar Estate Officer G. Prasad said that at least 25,000 people visit the city’s 13 rythu bazaars every day. The use of plastic in the bazaars has been almost controlled as vendors do not provide bags to customers who come to the bazaars with their own bags. In this way, the rythu bazaars in the city are at the forefront of successfully implementing the single-use plastic ban, and protecting the environment, he added.

Environmentalists are of the opinion that non-degradable materials harm the environment and society in various ways. In recent times, especially during functions (weddings), people use paper plates that have small plastic layers. These are more harmful than single-use plastic bags.

“Since plastic below 40 microns is non-degradable, it is harmful to the environment and its pile of plastic in public places such as beaches usually creates an unhealthy atmosphere and affects the health of people,” said P.V. Mukunda Rao, environmental engineer, AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB), Visakhapatnam.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Public Health Department officials informed that 63,201 inspections were conducted at shops in the city from January 1 to Monday (April 28). The department identified 11,310 violations in their inspections and seized 12,260.8 kilograms of single-use plastic materials. The department also slapped a fine of ₹2,35,300 on the violators.