As the Single Use of Plastic (SUP) ban begins in Nagaland, packaged drinking dealers and employees involved in plastic packaging ventures have raised concern on loss of livelihoods.
These concerns were raised during the awareness program cum meeting on Single Use of Plastic (SUP) organised by the Kohima Municipal Council held on July 31 at DC office Conference hall, Kohima.
The meeting was attended by Kohima village Council, AWO, all 19 ward Chairman, CCI,Kohima hotels and Restaurant unions, AYO, KVYO, KVSU, Youth organisation in all wards and media.
A representative from the Federation of Nagaland
Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association (FNPMA) appealed for time to retrieve their goods. Raising concerns about the government’s decision to halt manufacturing in Nagaland while continuing to import goods from neighboring states like Assam, especially with the prevalence of plastic-wrapped grocery items from Assam, the representative questioned the government’s plan to address this issue.
The representative also stated that the employment of over 1000 families are at stake if their business operations cease, highlighting the substantial investment in packaged drinking water, with 80 percent of sales dependent on the 1-liter bottle. They expressed doubts about the feasibility of completely eliminating plastic usage.
The challenges faced by legal business owners was also pressed, where concerns were raised over the government’s inability to curb illegal businesses. Against this backdrop, many questioned the government’s focus on targeting the Packaged Drinking Water Association.
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Sharing similar woes, a beverage dealer disclosed that their business in Nagaland amounts to 50-60 crores. He urged the government to address their concerns and requested compensation for potential losses if no buffer time is provided to sell or retrieve products.
Advocating for an advanced disposal system instead of an abrupt halt, the dealer implored the need for further discussions to find a viable solution.
Additionally, the dealer also remarked on the government’s financial benefit from recycling through taxes and urged them to invest in quality machinery. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts from both parties to address the issue effectively.
