Bangur (West Bengal): The world is growing and changing, so is the climate. Global Warming and Climate Change is one of the biggest concern nowadays. Single-Use Plastic is one of the main causes of global warming.
The government of India and state governments have banned 'Single-Use Plastic', but the real picture is somewhat different.
Kolkata is covered with single-use plastic. But there is some exception also, like Bangur Avenue.
People living in Bangur Avenue do not use single-use plastic. Instead, they use paper packets and bags. Vendors also don't use single-use plastic. Local people are aware of the Government's notice and they 'actually' obey the rules.
The supermarkets of Kolkata are the epicentre of single-use plastic but if you go to Bangur supermarket, you wouldn't find any single-use plastic. From vendors on street to sweet shops, everyone is using paper packets and bags.
A few years ago Bangur avenue also suffered from waterlogging in monsoon, but now as they are plastic-free, there is no such problem as waterlogging anymore.
Ex councillor of Bangur Avenue, Mriganka Bhattacharya took the initiative to stop the use of single-use plastic. He said, when he was in power, he couldn't get any help from his board members but he single-handedly started the campaign to make the local people aware.
He used to visit every home of the locality and made the locals understand how harmful the plastic is. He also requested every shop keeper of his locality not to use plastic.
Initially, people did not pay heed to his request, but he didn't give up. He took another way to stop plastic usage. He spread the message among the shopkeepers that if they use plastic then they will have to pay fine.
Mriganka also said, the Government should stop producing single-use plastic, otherwise people won't change.
Also, read: Fight Against Plastic: Man builds non-plastic UPI-based credit card