SHIVANI SINGH

Last week, the National Green Tribunal banned the use of lightweight plastic bags in Delhi. It was the fifth such direction in eight years.

Since 2009, when the government first restricted the use of plastic bags, the ban has been tweaked to get more specific about the thickness of these carriers, and even prohibit their manufacturing — a move which was challenged in court. But the ubiquitous plastic “pannee” has remained in circulation, making the ban among the most poorly executed government/court orders ever.

This time though, the authorities will be bound by two such orders. The notification of the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 that also stipulates a ban on plastic bags thinner than 50 microns was due when the NGT stepped in.

But enforcing the ban will remain a challenge. Catching and fining violators, and seizing stocks are essentially policing exercises. “You can’t expect a sanitation inspector, who is otherwise monitoring collection of garbage and transportation to landfills, to be enforcing the plastic bag ban as well,” a municipal official said.

Clearly, Delhi will require officials across departments to pitch in. But with a history of blame-game fuelled by Delhi’s multiple jurisdictional structures, coordination among agencies is always an uphill task. The courts may have to intervene frequently and even appoint their own monitors.

A ban on manufacturing flimsy plastic bags is likely to follow. But to make it work, the