'Public hearing planned against manufacture, sale of plastic bags'

The sale and use of polythene bags of less than 30 micron thickness in Sindh, banned through an ordinance, continues because on the request of manufacturers they were given 3-month period to dispose of their stocks for saving them from huge losses, provincial minister for Environment and Alternate Energy Dr Saghir Ahmed said.
"When the government asked the manufacturers to stop producing such harmful plastic bags voluntarily, they did not pay heed to it, but when the operation started a host of associations emerged and approached to give time," he told in 'Bil Mushafa' programme of Karachi radio aired on Sunday. The government did not take drastic action and allowed them, as over 200, 000 people earn livelihood through this industry, he added.
Minister however said that the ban on manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags of less than 30-micron thickness exists. "We would also hold public hearing on this issue by June end or in July inviting all the stakeholders," he told.
To a question, Dr Saghir said all the multinational companies abide by the environmental laws strictly and only the local industries create problems, although they have certain environment-friendly companies among them. "Some times we havee to defer any action against violators only because of such environment-friendly industries," he added. When asked if his department has any data of all the industrial and other establishments in Sindh and the ratio of environment-friendly units that makes it to defer the action, minister said he has approached industries department for providing such statistics.
He told that 172 tanneries have contributed in setting up of Combined Treatment Plant in Korangi recently inaugurated by President General Pervez Musharraf.
Responding to a question about check on smoke-emitting vehicles, Dr Saghir said his department has installed monitoring equipment in the city for this purpose. "We have procured eight smoke-analysers for petrol and CNG vehicles.
"Another thing we plan is to introduce fitness stickers for the vehicles through excise and taxation department. Under this system, stickers of different colours would be pasted on vehicles. The colour of sticker would describe the period of fitness of that particular vehicle," he told adding that the E&T department has been asked to keep check on registration of vehicles.