Plastic-Free Nagaland

Still an elusive dream

Nagaland was one of the first states in the northeast to have banned single-use plastic items to combat the environmental and ecological challenges posed by the rampant use of non-biodegradable items. Instead of using plastic or polythene bags, the government has promoted the use of paper bags for day-to-day activities like shopping and carrying other items. However, the government has failed to significantly boost the use of paper bags in the state and has failed in its determination to make Nagaland plastic-free.

The pledge to make Nagaland free from plastic was taken on June 4, 2019, and the then Nagaland government was fully determined to free the state from the stranglehold of plastic and make the state a healthier one.

The decision to ban plastic was a brilliant initiative taken by the state government, but somewhere the entire process fizzled out. Plastic is very much a part of our lives even today, said Uma Konyak, a resident of Kohima while speaking to Northeast Today.

The call for a plastic ban is more concentrated on polythene bags that we use while shopping. Whereas, other plastics like mineral water bottles, chocolate wrappers, packets of chips and many other items still come in plastic wrapping. There is no clear direction regarding these, he added.