Officially banned, but Plastic bags are seen all over 

Last year the use of plastic and polythene bags was banned  in Vrindavan, but in practice the whole town is littered with polythene of all shapes, hues and sizes, choking drains and causing visual pollution.

A bench of the Allahabad High Court had ordered the ban on use of plastic and polythene items in the Sri Krishna land. "This was greeted with relief and joy, but unfortunately the order could not be implemented for want of will," said activist Madan Gopal Sharma.

The Mathura district magistrate was  asked to form a committee to monitor the implementation of the ban order.

The court order was the result of a petition by Braj Life-Line Welfare Association, which highlighted the failure of the sewage treatment plants in the district.

The division bench asked the district magistrate to file a status report on the state of cleanliness and sanitation in the district.

Authorities were asked to launch an awareness campaign to discourage use of polythene and plastic bags.

Wecoming the judicial initiative music maestro Acharya Jaimini pointed out everywhere you see heaps of garbage and waste littered around attracting flies and mosquitoes.  The polythene bags are a huge nuisance choking drains and sewer, causing inconvenience to pilgrims. 

Each day quintals of polythene and plastic bags are dumped by pilgrims and locals all over. "Thanks to rag pickers, you dont see heaps turning into mountains. But certainly the local muni cipal body needs to effectively curb use of polythene. Users should be punished with a fine, says Mathura resident Ballabh pandit. "Many municipal bodies in the country have succeeded in checking polythene nuisance, why cant the Mathura district administration work on this," asks Nandan Shrotriya, a resident.

It is such an ugly sight in all the religious towns of Braj from Goverdhan, Barsana to Mathura, Gokul and Vrindavan. The ugly polythene is killing the water bodies and choking sewer lines, adds activist Madhu Mangal Shukla.