Acts enacted, but who cares?

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner has issued a directive to take stern action against the use and sale of plastic bags of thickness below the recommended standard. The notice has also made it clear that throwing such plastic bags in drains and roads will invite punitive action.

DCs issue such directives off and on, but who cares? The public having a devil-may-care attitude to Acts and Rules is an indication that the authorities concerned have utterly failed in implementing them.

The Act against the use of plastic below the recommended thickness is just an example. There are many more Acts and rules in Assam that have no takers. Mention can be made among others of the 'Wetland Preservation Act', 'Prevention of Defacement of Private Property Act', 'Assam Hill Land and Ecological Sites Protection Act', 'Assam Land Alienation Act', 'Assam Weekly Holidays Act', 'Assam Ease of Doing Business Act', the rules against the use of tinted glass on cars, and also the rule of informing the government by an employee in the event of purchasing anything worth over Rs 10,000. All such Acts have failed to serve their respective purposes simply because the authorities concerned failed to implement them with the right earnestness.

What leads the Acts and rules face such a fate?

The Act against the use of plastic bags below the recommended thickness was enacted a few years back. Even now plastic bags below the recommended thickness are sold openly under the very nose of the administration, and people throw such plastic bags and bottles in drains.

The latest directive issued by the Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner will have its impact to an extent for a week or two. The erring traders know it well that after one or two weeks everything will be back to square one.

Despite the presence of an Act regarding the preservation of wetlands, wetlands are being encroached upon in Guwahati and elsewhere in the State. If such wetlands continue to shrink in their areas due to increased human activities, what's the relevant Act in aid of?

The situation is no different in encroachment and rampant earth-cutting in hills, including the ones in and around Guwahati. This is despite the presence of the Assam Hill Land and Ecological Sites Protection Act.

The 'Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act' was enacted around 10 years back. However even now, various organizations and parties paste slogans and posters on private properties across the State without the consent of the concerned owners. No action is taken against the erring parties or organizations.

A government employee doesn't feel like informing his higher authority while purchasing anything costing over Rs 10,000. If this is so, what's the Rule in the service book in aid of?

When it comes to the implementation of Acts and rules in Assam, everything seems to be messy. And the respective authorities should be squarely blamed for that. When an Act is enacted or a rule is framed, the mechanisms of their strict implementation have to be framed. Moreover, there should be provisions to fix responsibilities on the implementing authorities if they fail to implement an Act or a rule in its true spirit. 'Not implementing an Act' is tantamount to 'failing the Act'.

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