Search for alternative to plastic bags begins

[caption id="attachment_241439" align="alignleft" width="450"] Participants engage in making cloth and paper bags during a training programme, on March 30 at Khonoma in Kohima district.[/caption] Our Correspondent Kohima, March 30 (EMN): In line with the Nagaland government’s policy to rid the state of single-use plastic, a training in paper and cloth bag-making, was conducted on March 30 at Khonoma in Kohima district. The paper and cloth bags are being envisaged to be the alternative to plastic bags. During the event, the general secretary of the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) Akhrie Mor asked the students and participants from women groups to be prepared and to equip themselves to tackle plastic and the adverse impact the material has on health and the environment. She appreciated the state’s government for recognising the problem of plastic pollution and for taking steps to ban it in the state. A functionary of a group called The Coming Generation, Francis Ruangmei, spoke about the hazards of plastic. Plastic is a synthesis of polymer with chemicals, and has chemicals hazardous to human health and environment, he told the gathering. He added that bisphenol chemical, one of the components of plastic, is known to cause cancer, infertility, and hormone disorder. The programme was organised by a civic conservation platform called the Green Team for Kohima, in collaboration with the Khonoma Students’ Union. Green Team Kohima consists of the Kohima Municipal Council, KCCI, The Coming Generation, Yard, Project 72 hours, Earth Friendly Generation, and concerned individuals from different backgrounds. Both men and women participating in the event dedicated about two and half hours to learning how to make paper bags and two hours more in cloth bag making. During last year’s the World Environment Day, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio set December as the dateline for the state to be free from plastic. Following the declaration, the government along with district and municipal councils, various organisations, agencies, and individuals have come forward to combat plastic pollution. The chief minister also allotted INR 10 lakh each to all the districts from the CM’s corpus fund to promote alternative products in November last. Recently, Rio had stated that the government could “not achieve the plastic free (status), because we (government) could not bring in the substitute.” Nonetheless, he assured that the government was trying to implement the initiative through district commissioners and administrations; local chambers of commerce; and Civil Society. This was stated during the People Democratic Alliance’s thanksgiving service that was held to commemorate the government accomplishing one year, held earlier this month.