Youthful activists of the Green Brigade of Agra were joined by students, members of several NGOs including Wake Up Agra and senior citizens. They reminded the city administration of the successful campaign launched last November by the municipal corporation. "But with the transfer of some officials the movement lost its sting and the official of the Nagar Nigam lost the passion to sustain the campaign which had yielded surprising results. Public awareness activities along with penal action against offenders helped to bring about a change," said Sudershan Dua and Anand Rai, eco-activists.

Naresh Paras, representative of CRY, said "the polythene nuisance has to be curbed as it was a major source of pollution in the city."

Orthopaedic surgeon and medical activist Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi said "we need to explore all legal avenues including the Right to Information to find out why a successful campaign was suspended. The legal provisions are in place. We all need to sit together and find out solutions."

The major source of garbage and municipal waste is polythene, say the specialists. "Not only are the polythene bags an eyesore, but the use of polythene bags is proving a major hurdle to clean up the city," according to Wake Up Agra president Shishir Bhagat. Agra produces more than a thousand tons of waste daily. The Agra Municipal Corporation has so far been able to process only around 500 tons at a new facility developed at the Kuberpur forest across the river Yamuna.

Student leaders Geetam Singh, Anand Sharma, Nivedita, Neha said "Agra citizens must rise against the use of polythene. We all have to change our mindsets and life-styles and continue to pressure government agencies to implement the law."

Under Rule 2000, several directives of the Supreme Court and the notifications of the ministry of environment and forests, use of polythene bags under 20 microns is banned.