Bangalore (India):

The ban on plastic carry bags of less than 40 microns seems to have had no effect on Bangaloreans.

According to the notification of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), March 15 was the deadline for banning such plastic carry bags in the city.

But city folks were seen using plastic carry bags of even less than 20 microns after the deadline.

"I welcome the government's decision to ban plastic bags of poor quality. It will stop global warming, environmental pollution and public health problems," said T Ramanath, a retired teacher. "I think everybody should say no to plastic but this will not happen with one person or one organisation." Ramanath said everybody must join hands. "I will not use the plastic wherever I go, I carry my own bag made of jute."

R Mahanthesh of a plastic manufacturing company explained why it was difficult for them to follow the ban.

"All the stock that we have is of bags that are less than 20 and 30 microns. It will take one year to clear the stock," he said. "If the government seizes the plastic carry bags, we will lose crores of rupees."

K R Market vegetable vendor, M Kamalamma, had a reason to hand out plastic bags.

Customers come empty-handed to buy vegetables. If we don't provide carry bags, they will go to another shop and they won't ask for quality bags," she said. "Even if they have a bag with them, they ask for plastic bags and if we don't provide it, our business will suffer."

K S Gangadhar, proprietor of Venkatalaxmi Enterprises that manufactures plastic bags said earlier they were asked to stop manufacturing plastic carry bags of less than 20 microns. "This time, the order is to stop manufacturing bags of less than 40 microns," he said.

Gangadhar said there is also no specification on the type of carry bags that should not be less than 40 microns. "There are three types of carry bags HM carry bags used for carrying vegetables, fruits and in hotels, polypropylene bags that are used to pack clothes and Low Density Polyethylene bags that are used for industrial purposes," he said.

Mahesh, the owner of a store, said there are tonnes of plastic bag stocks in godowns and a ban on them meant huge losses. "If government seals the units that manufacture such bags, then dealers will import them from other states," he said. "It is difficult to check the illegal market if there is a demand for thin plastic bags."

Hotel owners are in trouble since the ban. They were using low quality plastic bags for the purpose of parcel. Such bags are considered health hazards.

"Till now, we were using low quality plastic bags for parcel of food and plastic sheets on plates. Now, we have to go for high quality plastic covers due to the government ban on low quality plastic covers and bags. It will compel us to increase the cost of food," said Ramanna, owner of Manjunatha hotel.