Chandigarh, March 6 -- Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Satnam Singh Sandhu has taken up the issue of sanitation and plastic waste management in Chandigarh's apni mandis with UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, submitting a report based on a joint study conducted by the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) and Chandigarh University. The final report titled "Plastic waste generation and management in Apni Mandis of Chandigarh" was formally presented to the administrator. The study was sponsored by Toppan Speciality Films Private Limited, Roopnagar. Appreciating the findings of the study, Kataria directed officials to convene a joint meeting of all stakeholders, including the Punjab Mandi Board, Chandigarh municipal corporation, Chandigarh agricultural marketing board, as well as farmers and vendors operating in apni mandis. He also instructed the UT administration to prepare a comprehensive action plan for implementing the recommendations of the report. The administrator further directed that the findings and suggestions of the study be implemented at the Sector 26 Grain Market as well. Speaking on the occasion, MP Sandhu said the fact-finding report is based on a survey conducted among 500 vendors, 750 customers, and 110 nearby households across 11 Apni Mandis in Chandigarh. "During the survey, it was found that nearly 50% of the vendors were unaware of eco-friendly non-plastic packaging alternatives. Many respondents also felt that environmentally friendly packaging options were expensive, especially as most vendors operate on very thin profit margins," Sandhu said....