Mumbai: The state government is mulling allowing thermocol decorations during Ganeshotsav. However, environmentalists feel that once the government makes one exception, there will be similar dem-ands for other festivals and the purpose of the plastic ban, which will be implemented from Saturday, will be defeated.
A delegation of Ganesh mandal workers met Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray on Friday. They requested him to rethink on his decision to ban thermocol as decoration during Ganeshotsav.
Interestingly, Mr Thackeray is himself batting for a complete ban. During a meeting with environment minister Ramdas Kadam, Mr Thackeray suggested a discussion of officers of the environment department with mandal workers.
He asked them to counsel the workers over usage of plastic and thermocol. As of now there are talks that there would be a relaxation on use of thermocol during the Ganesh festival.
Mr Kadam said the decision rests with a high power committee. “It is true that there are concerns about these Ganesh mandal workers regarding thermocol. We all know that it is used for decorations duringthe Ganesh festival. Thermocol is used to decorate mandals. We will discuss the demand in a high power committee,” said Mr Kadam.
The minister also said that there would be no extension or exemption for any plastic item as part of the ban.
Environment activists have strongly opposed the relaxation on use of thermocol during Ganesh-otsav. Girish Raut, environment activist, opposed the idea.
“There is just a technical difference between thermocol and plastic. If we allow relaxations in one instance there will be more demands. The plastic ban will have no real impact. So, the government must make people aware of the damage caused instead of imposing relaxations,” said Mr Raut.
Meanwhile, Mr Kadam clarified that no strict action would be against small traders initially and that the focus will mainly be on plastic production units at this stage. “Our main focus is on the manufacturers of plastic. I have already instructed our officers to start registering FIRs against such manufacturers. If need be, they will raid certain plastic manufacturing units,” he added.
