Biased treatment toward plastic carrybags : IPF

KOLKATA: The Indian Plastic Federation (IPF) on Friday accused the West Bengal government of being against plastic carrybags while it has not taken any step against the plastic packaging industry.

"We don't understand why the West Bengal government is against the tiny industry which produces plastic bags and not the plastic packaging industry which accounts for much more than the carrybag consumption," IPF Chairman (Environment) R A Lohia said here on Friday.

"Non bio-degradable food packaging packets below 40 microns accounts almost 15 per cent of plastic carrybags, but the government has not touched them as they belong to large business groups and multinationals," he alleged.

The West Bengal government has banned plastic bags below 40 microns and 12' by 16' size, while central government norms are for usage above 20 microns.

IPF secretary K D Agarwal said that there was a wrong campaign by certain municipalities like South Dum Dum which had asked shopowners and consumers for a blanket ban on plastic carrybags.

This had resulted in loss of job for 30,000 people while 400 units were affected. Total turnover was expected at Rs 160