Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Ch Lal Singh said that use of polythene will be completely banned at all tourist places and Government will ensure that no polythene enters the state through Lakhanpur.The Minister was replying to a Private Members Resolution to make Jammu and Kashmir a Polythene free state moved by R S Pathania on behalf of Dr Gagan Bhagat.Mr G M Saroori said that Jammu and Kashmir is a tourist state with fragile environment. He called for complete ban on the polythene in the entire state The Minister said that Government is concerned over the ill-effects of Polythene usage in the state. He said that various steps are being taken to address the issue. The Minister said that Police will be given powers to check and take action to control polythene menace.The Minister called up on people to start from their homes the mission to make the state a polythene free state. He said that due to thin nature of polythene used in the state, no recycling is taking place. He called for adopting biodegradable options as a counter to polythene.
Mr Mubarak Gul urged the Government to check and seize any Polythene at Lakhanpur toll post and no polythene should be allowed to enter the state. He also called for under taking a awareness programmes for making people and officers aware of the menace of the polythene.Mr Pawan Kumar Gupta said that polythene is being irresponsibly dumped in rivers and open spaces, which is destroying water sources and agricultural land of the state. He called for complete segregation of garbage and their proper disposal.Mr Yawar Ahmad Mir said that majority of population and business is dependent on polythene and there is a need to bring alternative for polythene before going for complete ban.Mr Bashir Ahmad Dar called up on the Government to bring a strict law to deal with the polythene menace.Mr Sat Pal Sharma and Choudhary Sukhnandan also urged the Government to take immediate steps to tackle the rising pollution due to polythene usage.Later R S Pathania on behalf of Dr Gagan Bhagat withdrew the resolution.