Though the authorities in Dehradun are lending final touches to the human chain event to be held on November 5 to raise awareness on polythene ban, people in the city have mixed opinions about the event and the ban on polythene.

The State Government and MCD seem to be aligned in their views about the ill effects of polythene bags, different sections of public seem to have various doubts and viewpoints.

Few shopkeepers and vendors are in a state of reluctant agreement about using non-woven bags and other alternatives which according to them are expensive.

“We will charge extra from people if the Government wants us to use non-woven bags,” vegetable vendor Atal Kumar said.

If the move has to become people’s movement, the business class has to become a driving change.

According to Maninder Singh who owns a shop in Indira market, he and others in the market welcome the move wholeheartedly.

“If the Government is saying that banning polythene bags can help the environment then I don’t think anybody should have a problem,” said Singh. When asked about the human chain event he and others in the market said they were unaware of it.

While some people are praising the municipal corporation for distributing cloth bags in their localities, others are complaining about them not reaching their area or neighborhood.

Though students and youngsters are enthusiastic about the human chain event, they opine that the general public is unaware of the event.

“It is a good initiative by the authorities but I haven’t met a single person who knows about the event,” said young entrepreneur Aditya Aggarwal.

Another youngster questioned whether such a large scale event could be held without causing majo disruption in traffic movement.

According to Shikha Chettri, a student and an IAS aspirant, ban on single use plastic is much needed in the Himalayan State as it has a sensitive ecology. The human chain event is a move to sensitise people about the harmful effects of plastic and polythene bags, she added.