On cards: Total ban on plastic carry bags

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sometime soon, there will be a plastic carry bag ban in the entire district of Thiruvananthapuram. K Vasuki, who takes charge as Thiruvananthapuram collector on Tuesday, told DC that she will be considering a complete ban on plastic carry bags. “It will not be an overnight operation, and will be achieved through step-by-step efforts. I look forward to the end result (of a complete ban of plastic carry bags),” she said. By steps, she meant dialogue with various stakeholders. “Initially, I will have a dialogue with the stakeholders. There will be arguments. But we have no choice left,” she said.

When Thiruvananthapuram Corporation announced a ban on plastic carry bags, a criticism hurled at it was that alternatives like cloth and paper bags were not yet available in the market. Vasuki said, “I do not believe in waiting for alternatives to be ready. The only alternative is to bring a change in our mindset and lifestyle. I do not buy into the argument that we do not have time and cannot go back to our habits.” 

She said that Thiruvananthapuram Corporation had made a huge headway. “A lot of work has been done. We need to pick up from there,” she said. When asked about priority areas, she said that apart from the implementation of various infrastructure projects which the government had planned for Thiruvananthapuram, achieving Haritha Keralam objectives would be a top priority. 

“Rain has been scarce for two consecutive years. It is a big indicator of climate change. I am expecting a drought. This will be a wake-up call to change the habits I mentioned before. Let Kerala take the lead for the rest of the world to follow. I would like to focus on natural resource management and preparedness for the future. Water conservation, waste management and organic farming, which are part of Haritha Keralam, will definitely be a priority,” she said.  “Wherever I will go, I will give priority to the environment. I strongly believe that, 25 years from now, natural resources will determine the way we live. We need to start somewhere,” she said.