Plastic bags are being used extensively in markets across Delhi despite the ban on their use imposed in January this year. Newsline visited some markets and found that shopkeepers have not switched to alternatives.

“Even government authorities are using plastic bags for packaging milk under the Delhi Milk Scheme despite the ban,” Rajesh, who owns a garment store in Karol Bagh, said.Ganesh, who owns a mobile shop in Ghaffar Market, said: “Paper bags are fragile; we have to depend on plastic bags as they are cheap and easily available.”

The shopkeepers also told Newsline they haven’t been asked by any authority to use any alternative for plastic bags.

A shopkeeper in Palika Bazaar, when asked as to why he still uses plastic bags despite the ban, said: “The government should first put a ban on manufactures and retailers and keep an eye on them, and then only can we help in sorting out this problem.”

Some traders in Karol Bagh and Connaught Place, however, were quite happy with the ban. A trader who owns a shop in CP said: “I am using plastic bags made with imported acrylic jute, and paper bags ever since the ban was implemented.” Some shopkeepers even ask customers to carry jute bags or handmade bags as they are eco-friendly and ultimately convenient for both buyers and shopkeepers.

Some shopkeepers also feel using paper bags will be as dangerous as using plastic bags, “because their production means a large number of trees will be cut down and the resulting deforestation will lead to more pollution”.