District Administration conducts raid in Tarapur; Polybags seized, fines imposed

Cachar District Administration is marching ahead with its drive to make Cachar “Plastic Free”. The District Administration has already announced the ban of single-use plastic. On July 8, 2019, deputy commissioner, Laya Madduri issued a letter which stated that usage of polybags, thermocol and other single-use plastic products are banned with effect from July 13, 2019.

Today the administration in association with Tarapur Police has conducted a joint raid in Tarapur area. The administration on its official Facebook page posted, “A joint raid against Plastic use in tarapur area by Smt Navanita Hazarika, ACS, Aditi Nunisa ALRS, Nippan Paul, Tarapur Police. Fines has been imposed, Polybags and single use plastic seized.”

As per sources, roadside vendors and grocery shops were raided today. The sudden raid had caught the vendors off-guard and most of them were using plastic bags. One of the vendors said, “Customers insist us to keep the plastic bags and that is why we are left with no other options. If we don’t keep bags they don’t buy vegetables,” he said.

The raid conducted in Tarapur market area had invoked mixed reactions. Few welcomed the move from the administration and assured their support to the administration, others accused the officials of exploiting the poor. “Why no drive against the wafers and other fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers who are using plastic to package their products? Raiding small shops and road-side vendors won’t save the environment but will exploit the poor. The administration should generate awareness among the customers. If they start bringing their bags we won’t need to keep plastic bags,” said a pan shop owner.

The administration, however, maintained that it would continue its drive against the usage of plastic. Its earlier letter to business establishments read, “A massive awareness among ourselves is much needed, where we need to understand that the single-use pastic makes immense potential to pollute marine environment and spreads its harmful effect on marine ecosystem, biodiversity and potentially human health and also causes waterlogging in drains/canals especially during rain due to throwing of plastic.”