Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Laloo’s Kullahars are not eco-friendly

Posted : June 23, 2004 at 6:30 am [IST]

Laloo’s great idea of replacing all plastic cups with Kullahars has got a beating.. His high sounding public claims of providing employment to potters are at risk of protest now from environmentalists. If they do not, I will conclude that they’re all leftists who want to support this silly idea of Kulahars at all cost.

Latest Outlook, June 28 has published an article by Maneka Gandhi. All her arguments appear to be logical and sensible. Potters use agricultural farm land for earthen pots. They use government-owned or private trees in rural areas to bake the pots. The pots once baked are not bio-degradable.

As I understand, a lot of research has already gone into manufacturing of bio-degradable plastics. India should take advantage of that. Our National Chemical Laboratory may provide the necessary solutions. One also needs to look into the possibility of making toughened paper glasses, if these are not already commercially available. Plastic carrying bags must be banned totally. Injuries to animals are devastating. Have you seen some cows and other animal digging out eatables from the waste bins or bleeding badly while defecating because of internal injuries caused by plastics that the animals consume while trying to find out eatables?

In my humble and perhaps even unpopular opinion, the manufacture of plastic bags used extensively today ought be banned or at least regulated by the government and boycotted by every sensible person.

- Indra

Category: Government Policy/Administration |