Paper bag, shaal leaves replacing plastic bags in Agartala

A Correspondent

Agartala, July 25 : Paper bag locally known as ‘Thonga’ and shaal leaves are making a come-back to the Tripura market as the State Government has intensified the drive against plastic carry bags as part of its anti-pollution drive.

Effect of the drive is yet to be felt in capital town Agartala but in the districts and sub-divisional towns the drive is going on in full swing and in many markets the traders have totally abandoned use of plastic carry bags.

The consumers who got habituated with plastic carry bag and many of whom even forgot to take a bag while going to market is finding the situation difficult and trying to acclimatized with the new situation.

However, the traders have devised an alternative to plastic carry bag and now delivering the goods packed in paper bag or in shaal leaves. “We are to deliver the goods and this is to be packed,” said a trader in Amarpur market in South Tripura district. This new situation is going to be a boost for the rural economy as many people have already started making paper bags or ‘Thonga’ with old newspapers and another section has started collecting shaal leaves from forest.

Thongas are used in grocery shops while shaal leaves are used in fish and meat markets, said a trader.