Creeping back

The decision-makers have to take a reappraisal of the situation. The benefits of a ban on polythene bags which translated into an improvement of the environment around us risk being lost gradually. It has been proven beyond doubt that as container of foodstuff polybag is not safe. Then the biggest problem it creates is the clogging of sewerage lines due to indiscriminate proliferation of polythene. The insoluble nature of the material causes great damage to the soil as well, with grave long-term implications. So, polybags mustn't feature in any scheme of healthy living.

It is suspected that the business in polybags goes on under the nose of law enforcers. The price of the bags in the post-ban period having gone up by 50 per cent, the producers do not find it difficult to spend money to buy the indifference of policemen.

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Clearly, the problem lies in the slack on the part of law enforcers to catch the culprits. Though the police claimed having made raids on the clandestine factories from time to time, the results speak for themselves. They have to bring the producers and sellers of banned polybags to book before the illegal business can be stopped. The law has to be enforced strictly.