‘Lamet’ Over Plastic After KHADC Decides To Ban Plastic

Staff Correspondent

Shillong: There has been a slight shoot in the sale of the ‘Lamet’, the traditional mode of organic wrappers made out of leaves in Iewduh, Shillong after the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) decided to ban plastic in a phase-wise manner from September 1. Lamet has sustained itself in spite of the onslaught of plastics as an alternative wrapping mechanism in the traditional markets of the State for the past two and a half decades. While plastic is still visible in Meghalaya’s largest market, The Sentinel on Monday solicited the voice of Lamet dealers and their business in the past eight days.

“There is a slight increase in the demand of our Lamet and hopefully this demand will sustain with the stringent enforcement of the restriction of plastics”, stated Banroi Tangsang of Mawlat village.

“So long, in our area of production, we continue to feed the market, but find it is hard to survive in the world of plastic business”, Tangsang stated, adding, “we have our own traditional customers who deal with business to wrap traditional eateries varying from rice, curry, to other local culinary.”

To the likes of Tansang, four other dealers of Lamet, sees a positive future in their business to rejuvenate the rural economy and live with the world (they don’t know of the global call) of saving the environment. M Dkhar said, “As a person involved in traditional food packaging with Lamet, I am also worried about the foil packages”.

The Lamet comes from all over Khasi Hills. The maximum is from Mawlat-Pynursla area. They use pick-up trucks to transport the ‘Lamet’ with a hope that the days of organic matter is here.

Ian Khongmen , a Shillong based environmental activist told The Sentinel “We should learn that plastic comes from the Northern Hemisphere.. They might have produced plastics but not our organic items”.

While appreciating the positivity of the simple Lamet producers, largely from the slopes to Bangladesh, Khongmen said that this should carryon in a way with vigour to live up with the concern.

Also Read: Meghalaya State Planning Board ‘Go Green’ Roadmap to take off Soon

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