Mayor Saurabh Joshi Writes to UT Administrator Seeking Zero-Polythene Status For Chandigarh

Mayor Saurabh Joshi has urged the UT administrator and Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria to declare Chandigarh a complete no-plastic zone, calling for an immediate and absolute ban on polyethylene across the city.

In a letter addressed to Kataria, Joshi said the unchecked circulation and use of plastic carry bags — despite existing restrictions — has pushed Chandigarh into what he described as an “environmental and moral crisis". He warned that the issue has moved beyond routine sanitation lapses and now threatens the very identity of Chandigarh as the “City Beautiful".

The mayor highlighted the impact of plastic waste on stray cattle, stating that animals are often forced to ingest polyethylene from garbage heaps, leading to prolonged suffering and, in many cases, painful deaths. He also raised concerns about unregulated scrap operations in peripheral villages, where plastic waste scattered during segregation is contaminating agricultural fields, degrading soil fertility and polluting groundwater, thereby endangering rural ecosystems and public health.

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Seeking a comprehensive crackdown, Joshi called for a total prohibition on the manufacture, storage and sale of polythene bags. He also proposed mandatory enclosure and strict regulation of scrapyards, the establishment of plastic-free garbage collection points to protect stray animals, and stringent penalties for violators.

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