"A lot of shopkeepers asked us to mind our own business," said Neha, a second-year-student of St. Joseph's College who was out with her classmates on Commercial Street on Tuesday, asking managers of retail stores and small shopkeepers to comply with the ban on plastics.
Around 70 students, along with activists of Bangalore Eco Team, the ward councillor and health officer, went shop to shop asking retailers to stop using plastic bags. While some shops had adopted the ban, others still carried old stocks.
"Shopkeepers ask us why we are targeting them and to go after the manufacturers instead," said another student. It's a classic case of chicken and egg… when green activists approach manufacturers, they ask why shopkeepers continue to buy from them. The students also approached shoppers on the street. While some agreed to stop use of plastic, others shrugged and walked away.
Shivajinagar councillor R. Vasanth Kumar told The Hindu that inspections would be intensified over the coming weeks. "We will be inspecting shops in the area over the next few weeks. From Monday, we will start cancelling licences of shops that do not comply with the ban," he added.
Medical officer Vedavathi said that retail chains, which had been fined in the past, were now complying with the ban.
While there is an intention to do good, many retailers do not know of options available to them. "Some retailers offer non-woven bags as an eco-friendly option, unaware that these are also non-biodegradable," said activist Malini Parmar and added that the team also found paper cups littered everywhere. “Many food chains, in their home countries, offer compostable cups to customers. Unless we demand this, they won't do the same in India," she added.
The students covered MG Road and Brigade Road areas the previous day and will be conducting a segregation drive in Shanthi Nagar area on Wednesday.
BBMP raids
The BBMP’s Standing Committee for Health raided a plastic manufacturing unit in Kamakshipalya. The unit was manufacturing disposable plastic cups, which is covered under the plastic ban imposed in the State since March.
In another instance, the committee raided a food products company at Hosahalli, where they found packets of spices being packaged with month of production as July.