Ban on Plastic Hits Small Manufacturers
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Edition 2 Page 1_Layout 1 2/11/2019 11:33 AM Page 1 Volume No 19 Issue No 2 February 8, 2019 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM George Town Wildlife smugglers From railway buildings in get away because bookshops to disrepair of legal loopholes souvenir stalls Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Death beckons on the Marina Ban on plastic hits Frequent drownings have led the police to bank on fishermen BHARAT SHARMA small manufacturers Marina Beach records most deaths ANAND JC be banned for the betterment of our to implement a system where they by drowning in the state, with four future, they are a nuisance to the should have two bins, green and college students losing their lives Poor waste management in the state public but banning all plastic isn’t a blue. Recyclable waste should be this year. has led to a ban resulting in job well-thought out step. Managing deposited in green bins and non- There is no formal rescue losses, Tamil Nadu Plastic the garbage situation is much more recyclable waste in blue bins. This mechanism in place. Policemen Manufacturers Association important.” system hasn’t been implemented in patrol the beach area 24 hours, but President, Virendra Bhayani, said. Bhayani pointed out the lax on toto, it is only for namesake. There are totally dependent on the Coastal The New Indian Express on the part of Chennai Corporation are only bins but no segregation, Guard and local fishermen for February 6th had reported that which led to the sudden ban on everything is dumped together,” he rescue operations. Chennai Corporation proposed plastics. “Countries like Sri Lanka added. “Fishermen are always the first fines on users and producers of and Vietnam which are lesser The State government has not to spot someone drowning. Most banned plastic items, ranging economies have limited plastic created any alternative employment people are saved by them… We between Rs 100 and Rs 3 lakh. problems. It is because their options for thousands who will be don’t go into the water. If we spot They will be fined thrice and on the corporations have taken care of the without jobs because of this ban. anything, we tell the Coastal fourth offence, they will be asked situation well. It’s called waste “The government says that they Guard”, said N. Raja, a sub- to shut shop. management. The Government of have a 200-cr fund to rehabilitate inspector at Marina Police Station. However, Bhayani feels that the the affected, but we don’t have any Most officials asserted the MNCs have gotten a better side of specifications about how that fund importance of fishermen in rescue the deal. “The MNCs have agreed will be employed.” and prevention efforts. “They are that they will reduce plastic usage When it comes to packing food our eyes and ears”, Raja added. by 10-20% every year and by 2022 Recyclable waste should be and drinks, plastic provides D. Amardhass, a sub-inspector at they will completely eradicate deposited in green bins and hygiene that is best, second to Anna Square Police Station said plastic packaging. These none. He said, “Plastic is a gift that, “The beach is open and free. One of many mobile police booths at Marina Beach Promenade | BHARAT SHARMA companies are responsible for more non-recyclable waste in blue from mankind. Even in developed We can’t stop people from using it. than 90% of the problem causing bins. This s“ystem hasn’t been countries, plastic is used to ensure Many young people go into the permanent watchtowers, there is no 13 km with a 6 km long promenade boards just in a kilometre… but plastic out there.” implemented in toto, it is that the food is tamper proof. water after dark when waves are way for policemen to keep an eye gets 30,000-40,000 visitors every they never listen to our advice”, he “It is the local plastic People nowadays who order food strong and then drown… Blocking on the shore. day. Besides two police stations, said. manufacturers who suffer. One of only for namesake. There are online and prefer takeaways want a entry would really help at night”. Janet Shanmugam, who visits eight mobile police booths have Most deaths by drowning occur the TAPMA members took a loan only bins but no segregation. hygienic experience which only According to him, it is illegal to the beach every evening with her been set up to facilitate a quicker during night time. An ambulance is of three crore an year back. Now VIRENDRA BHAYANI plastic can provide. The bathe in beach water which remains sons, believes that tourists need to response. stationed at the Marina police that the ban is imposed, what will government proposed paper as an unregulated because of be more careful. “Young boys K. Ranjith, a constable at one of station in case of emergencies. he do? He has to shut shop, sack his alternative but more than seven overcrowding. drown all the time, even the best these booths, believes the key to However, no first aid services are 40 employees and hand over the India says that with the help of lakh trees are cut down for a Police officers patrol the beach swimmers… Tourists who bathe effective policing is public available on the beach. keys to the bank. It has now local environmental ministry, sizeable paper produce. Tell me on foot and horses during dusk and too deep in the sea don’t awareness and following rules. “If The coastal security helpline become an NPA. This will happen corporation and pollution control how that is an environment- dawn. In case of emergencies, understand how dangerous the people actually understand the (1093) was recently established to to 3,000-4,000 more units,” he said. boards, they will take care of waste friendly option?” beach buggies are deployed. current can be… maybe if we had danger of going too deep into the report someone in danger. Bhayani said that banning plastic management,” he said. TAPMA lawyers are still in the Temporary wooden watchtowers lifeguards it would be safer to water, they would think twice… According to N. Raja, more than isn’t the only essential step. “We “The Supreme Court in 2016-17 Madras High Court seeking are erected during summers and swim”. There are 3-4 vehicles on the beach 200 people were rescued owing to agree that thin gauge plastic must said that the State government has clarifications on the ban. festivals. In the absence of The beach, which stretches for at all times… and 19 warning this helpline in 2018. Summer will peak Violation of traffic rules makes Chennai roads unsafe in May, June ANKITA MARWAHA control the traffic. Now, there are ASHITHA JAYAPRAKASH only 35,” said Mr. Singh, one of the The number of road accidents in seven policemen at the Tidel Park To everybody’s relief this year, the Tamil Nadu has come down by junction, which comes under J13 Chennai heat will not be hitting us only 3 per cent since 2018 as Taramani police station. till May. Even the average peak opposed to 26% reduction in 2017. Some commuters blame hidden temperature is expected to be The ongoing Road Safety Week signals and increasing number of around 38 degrees Celsius in the seeks to further reduce this number. vehicles on the road. last two weeks of May and the first With the 30th Road Safety “A lot of signals, including the two weeks of June, according to Week, which started on February 4, Adyar signal, are hidden behind the Weather Underground website. 2019, daily commuters in Chennai branches of the trees at the divider. It will be a smooth sail with have reported a number of People don’t follow the traffic light mostly clear skies and bright sunny problems that they face every day there because of this,” said days for the next three months. But on the road. People embark on a walk to promote road safety | ANKITA M. Safety drives ensure speed limits are followed | ANKITA M. Vignesh, a cab driver. cover yourselves up and slap on a Raajwin, who drives a two- Siva Prakash said “The size of lot of sunscreen because there is a wheeler, said “There is still a lack pillion riders, according to cancelled in 2017, the highest ever Kirubakaran, who drives a two- has been on the road for half a day the roads has remained the same, high risk of harm from unprotected of awareness regarding wearing Raajwin. recorded in the city. wheeler, said “Pedestrians stand at every day during the Road Safety while the number of vehicles has exposure to the sun as UV index is helmets. A friend of mine met with With its motto as “Road Safety- Siva Prakash M (48) said “Bikes the edge of the road where we can’t Week. He wears a placard and a been increasing. This makes it expected to be at a high 11 for most an accident a few days ago and he Life Safety”, the Road Safety Week and scooters take to the footpaths see them, and suddenly dart across ‘Stop’ sign, and instructs difficult for the government to of this month. wasn’t wearing a helmet. He is in a programme has organized various as the roads have heavy traffic, and the road, increasing the chances of pedestrians at junctions not to manage increasing volume of According to Weather coma right now.” awareness programmes about the create problems for us pedestrians. accident.