Paranoia and questions on plastic reigned at the Together VCan's Social Sanchar meet for a conversation with Dr P Anbalagan, IAS member secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Nidhi Choudhari, IAS, Dy Municipal Commissioner (Special), BMC, on the topic 'Understanding the Plastic Ban' at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club on Thursday. VCan is a citizen's action network. The Anchorage Hall was packed to the rafters before 4 pm, attesting to the high interest the plastic ban has garnered.

Is banned
Dr Anbalagan said, "We have years of experimentation and research behind us and we thought this was the right time to bring in restrictions and become more stringent about plastic. Plastic carry bags are banned and so are single use plastic items such as disposable plastic cutlery." The official said certain exemptions were made, like plastic PET bottles. A gent in the audience scoffed, “They are exempt because plastic bottle manufacturers are making a huge noise." Guffaws greeted this, an indication of the cynicism prevalent in the city. "Thermacol decorations are also banned," Dr Anbalagan added, to a rapt audience. "Certain packaging for shampoo, oil, ghee is exempt and plastic bags manufactured for export are also exempt,” he said, to some confusion. The audience spanning school students, to salt 'n' pepper haired working persons and grey haired retirees was frowning, concentrating hard on what he was saying.