Ever since plastic carry-bags thinner than 20-25 microns were banned in Nashik from July 1, shopkeepers have been handing out the eco-friendlier paper bags. ``There is a ban on plastic bags here,'' a shopkeeper informs customers. The transition from polythene to paper has been surprisingly smooth for a town thronged by tourists. All it took was a circular issued by the corporation and some old-fashioned initiative by officials. Unlike in Mumbai, where the state's Environment Department issued a notification `banning plastic bags thinner than 20 microns' on March 8, 1999.

Nashik's Municipal Commissioner, Sujata Sounik, told Express Newsline, ``We were really fortunate that nobody objected to theproposal. Environmental consciousness is high among residents here, and there's been tremendous support from everybody.'' Nashik is a growing city already inhabited by over 10 lakh people, she pointed out. ``We found that new housing colonies get littered with plastic bags even before they are fully occupied. It was a question of taking a policy decision, and two months ago, we placed a proposal before the corporation.''

The ban based on the state government notification cites Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act for regulating the sale, production and supply of thin gauge plastic bags. Manufacturers are directed to discontinue the production of polythene carry bags less than 20 microns for new bags and 25 microns for recycled bags. Defaulting manufacturers can be punished under the Maharashtra Environment (protection) Act, 1986 section 15-16 with five years imprisonment and a fine upto Rs 1 lakh. The NMC is also imposing a fine of Rs 500 on anyone found buying, selling or using such bags.

Publicmeetings, seminars and discussions between authorities and shop and manufacturing organisations helped increase awareness before the proposal was passed. Says Nashik's Mayor Shobha Dinesh Bachhav, incidentally the first woman mayor there, ``The corporators were unanimous in accepting the proposal to ban the use of plastic carry bags within corporation limits. We thought it was necessary as we have been reading so much about the harm done to the environment.'' The NMC also plans to hold more such meetings in the future.

Civic health officer Dr V M Patil informs of how the NMC even organised a clean-up drive at the Pimpalgaon Khamb village with the help of 400 school students last week. ``The village, one of the 13 within corporation limits and inhabited by about 1,500 people, generated about 12 sacks of plastic garbage. Students from the New English School collected strewn bags from the gutters and open nullahs.''

Yet, some parts of Nashik like the bustling Panchavati market area still distribute theoffending bag. ``We don't want to force people using deterrents like fines. We want them to be aware of the dangers plastic poses to the environment,'' justifies a keyed-up Sounik, who's keen to keep up the tempo. ``We will give them some time to get used to the idea. Anyway, usually rural sectors or smaller areas follow in the steps of their urban counterparts.''

In that case, BMC should have been been ahead in the race. But an Additional Municipal Commissioner of the BMC unabashedly admitted that Nashik has beaten them to it. BMC still continues to merely hold meetings to decide on how to frame guidelines for a similar ban here. The last meeting was two months ago, and with the code of conduct now in force, officials admit that a policy decision will have to wait until after the elections.

Not that it's all smooth sailing for the NMC. Sounik admits that there is a problem of verifying the thickness of bags and other alternatives to the polythene use, issues being raised by manufacturers and shopkeepers.But, she says, ``We are functioning purely on an understanding.'' The fact that most manufacturing units are located outside the city at Malegaon has helped, adds Patil.

A Nashik resident informed that he ``tolerates the inconvenience of the ban as it is for a good cause.'' Collegian Prakash Sathe feels ``it is high time we did something about the plastic menace.'' While a middle-aged person hopes that it will be a matter of time before people revert to the good old habit of carrying their own bags for shopping.