Chandigarh: Despite repeated warnings and enforcement drives by the administration and the municipal corporation, sellers in Sector 26 grains, vegetables and fruit markets continued to use plastic bags to sell their goods. The reason is not disobedience, but strength – Environmentally friendly option It is often very expensive for them.
Paper, cloth, or jute bags are durable options, but their cost is many times more than plastic. For sellers that earn marginal daily income, switching on paper bags seems economically unattainable. In addition, customers often arrive without their own bags, put additional pressure on vendors to provide one.
A fruit seller, Gopi Kishan said, “There used to be a warehouse in the market, which used to sell clothes and eco bags, but it was closed a few years ago. I used to sell in cloth bags, but they are closed. A fine of Rs 2,500 is charged to use plastic bags, and I have been punished twice.”
Omkar, who sells vegetables in the market for six years, said, “The government organizes camps every two months and provides textiles and biodegradable bags at subsidized rates. However, they are still more expensive than plastic bags, so most vendors choose plastic bags.”
Constant raids and punishment use of plastic bags do not seem enough to prevent vendors. Danish, a vegetative vendor Danish, said, “Even though the authorities raided the mandi and fined shopkeepers using plastic bags, most vendors still avoid using paper bags as such bags cannot hold the weight of heavy vegetables.”
Another seller, a fruit seller, Kuldeep Kumar said, “We have to run in a few minutes when the authorities raided the area. They all take plastic bags and even vehicles. Since most shopkeepers use plastic bags, even though we try to bring a change, we cannot individually change the majority of plastic.”
However, there are some who have found a business and other materials have called to replace plastic bags with carry bags. A bag seller Suresh said, “I have been selling sack bags for the last five years and have seen many people using plastic bags in the market. To make a change, I sell bags to customers who come here to buy fruits and vegetables. If the sellers asked for them, if the sellers asked for them, I will be more happy to be happy to sell them, because it will change in the society.”
Paper, cloth, or jute bags are durable options, but their cost is many times more than plastic. For sellers that earn marginal daily income, switching on paper bags seems economically unattainable. In addition, customers often arrive without their own bags, put additional pressure on vendors to provide one.
A fruit seller, Gopi Kishan said, “There used to be a warehouse in the market, which used to sell clothes and eco bags, but it was closed a few years ago. I used to sell in cloth bags, but they are closed. A fine of Rs 2,500 is charged to use plastic bags, and I have been punished twice.”
Omkar, who sells vegetables in the market for six years, said, “The government organizes camps every two months and provides textiles and biodegradable bags at subsidized rates. However, they are still more expensive than plastic bags, so most vendors choose plastic bags.”
Constant raids and punishment use of plastic bags do not seem enough to prevent vendors. Danish, a vegetative vendor Danish, said, “Even though the authorities raided the mandi and fined shopkeepers using plastic bags, most vendors still avoid using paper bags as such bags cannot hold the weight of heavy vegetables.”
Another seller, a fruit seller, Kuldeep Kumar said, “We have to run in a few minutes when the authorities raided the area. They all take plastic bags and even vehicles. Since most shopkeepers use plastic bags, even though we try to bring a change, we cannot individually change the majority of plastic.”
However, there are some who have found a business and other materials have called to replace plastic bags with carry bags. A bag seller Suresh said, “I have been selling sack bags for the last five years and have seen many people using plastic bags in the market. To make a change, I sell bags to customers who come here to buy fruits and vegetables. If the sellers asked for them, if the sellers asked for them, I will be more happy to be happy to sell them, because it will change in the society.”
