Plastic littering takes toll in agricultural
sector in Kanchanpur
2017-01-29 14:19:35.0
Kanchanpur, Jan 29: Rampant use and disposal of plastic bags has taken its toll on agricultural sector in the district.
2017-01-29 14:19:35.0
Kanchanpur, Jan 29: Rampant use and disposal of plastic bags has taken its toll on agricultural sector in the district.
This practice is against the Plastic Bag Directive,
2071 BS that has restricted production, sales, and distribution of plastic bags
below 30 microns.
Chemicals from plastic bags that cannot be disposed
for long will contaminate the soil and water, thus contributing to the decrease
in crop production in the long run, said Yagya Raj Joshi, senior agriculture
development officer of the Agricultural Development Office, Kanchanpur.
"Although there is not exact data on the effect
of plastic bags on agriculture, 90 percent of the plastic bags is estimated to
be thrown rampantly on the farmland and this is a major challenge in the
area," he said, adding that this will cause 10 percent decrease in crop
production.
A farmer Jaya Prakash Rana of Bedkot Municipality
said they were finding difficulties to manage rampant throwing away of plastic
bags, a major cause of decreasing agricultural production in the area.
"Neither the government nor the concerned authority has taken initiatives
to this effect so far," he said.
Besides, discarded plastic bags pollute the
environment and have affected human health. "People in the area use
plastic bags as a means to burn fire and smoke from burning plastic bags will
severely affect human health," said Hemraj Joshi, information officer of
the District Public Health Office.
Harmful gas emanating from burning plastic bags may
cause various diseases in humans like cancer and skin diseases, he added. RSS
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