The Coimbatore Corporation has taken a two-pronged approach to implement the ban on one-time use plastic items, which kicks in on January 1, 2019, following a State government order.

The first is the constructive approach involving activists, representatives of various trade bodies that consume plastic in bulk and members of society to raise awareness on the ban, the alternatives available and encourage the use of eco-friendly alternatives, says Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan.

The Corporation has held a series of meetings with representatives of the hotel industry, traders' bodies, caterers' associations and wedding hall owners to inform them of the ban, how serious the Corporation is about it and how they can play a role in reducing the quantity of plastic that becomes the city's waste. The Corporation followed it up, with help from non-government organisations, by holding two exhibitions to showcase eco-friendly products that can be used as alternatives to plastics.

Second strategy

The second strategy is to take punitive steps after January 1, 2019.

The Corporation has, no doubt, made a headstart in promoting alternatives but the result of it is not as encouraging as expected, says R. Raveendran, secretary, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore. The Association works with the Corporation in improving city governance.

“The reason for the not-so-encouraging experience is that the bulk plastic users are confident that the Government will not strictly enforce the ban on one-time use plastic goods, just as it has enforced the rule on compulsory wearing of helmets,” he says.

The cost of alternative products is a factor that the bulk users cite for going slow on moving away from plastics. But this has become a chicken-and-egg story as the manufacturers of the alternative products say that they are willing to reduce the price if the users order in bulk. In the meantime, the Corporation continues to grapple with increasing quantity of one-time use plastic in its waste.

Of the 75-plus tonnes of plastic waste that is generated a day in the city, around 40% is recyclable, says Suresh Bhandari, a waste management expert working in association with the Corporation. The recycling happens at various levels – from conservancy workers segregating high-value plastic times to make money to rag pickers at the dump yard in Vellalore.

But the problem is with the non-recyclable plastic waste and poor segregation, say sources familiar with the development.

Though the Corporation claims that 80% of the waste generated in the city is segregated, the reality is that only around 30% is segregated at source. The result is that the mixed waste lands at the Corporation's dump in Vellalore, adding to the waste lying accumulated over the years.

Clocking the speedometer above 40 kmph in the city limits will soon attract fine for overspeeding as authorities are gearing up to cut down the speed limit from 50 kmph to 40 kmph.

The new speed limit will come into effect in the city once the District Collector notifies the same through a gazette.

A special committee with representations from various departments has already submitted its request to the District Collector seeking a revision of the speed limit in city.

“The main reason why the committee sought the district administration to reduce the speed limit in city roads was to bring down accidents caused by overspeeding.

The speed limit was fixed 50 kmph years back when the vehicle population was comparatively low. Now the number of vehicles in the city has increased manifold,” said Sujit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Coimbatore city.

The meeting of the special committee had representation from the Police Department, the Road Transport Authority, TNSTC, Coimbatore Corporation and the Highways Department.

The committee unanimously reached at the conclusion that speed limit should be revised considering the increase in the number of vehicular population, accidents caused by overspeeding and other factors.

Approximately 500 new vehicles added to the roads of Coimbatore city a day.

The committee has further suggested to fix speed limit to 30 kmph in six stretches in the city namely Gandhipuram - Ganapathy, Sukrawarpet - Avinashi flyover, Vysial Street - Selvapuram, Cross Cut Road, 100 Feet Road and Bharathiar Road.

Enforcement

Once the speed limit of 40 kmph is notified in city roads, except on the six stretches, boards with the revised speed limit will be placed on the sides of roads. The police will then start enforcing the new speed limit.

The traffic police will conduct check speed limits of vehicles plying in city limits using speed radars.“We are already having two speed radars to check overspeeding. We are in the process of procuring five more speed radars which are expected to arrive by early in January 2019,” said Mr. Kumar.