The Hindu 31.05.2017
Stringent steps on sale, use of plastic bags planned
Kodaikanal Municipality has planned to initiate stringent measures on
sale and use of plastic bags and other materials and collect annual
registration fees and monthly deposit from shops selling such items to
make hill station plastic-free.
Moreover, residents will have to pay a minimum user charge to the municipality for collecting and disposing of domestic waste.
Those
who fail to follow the guidelines in using and selling plastic bags and
in disposing of waste safely will be imposed a fine of up to Rs. 7,000.
Establishments
and buildings occupying 5,000 square feet or more will have to find
their own source to process biodegradable waste and recycle
non-biodegradable waste generated by them.
They should not depend
on the municipality for disposing of the waste as it will not collect
waste from them. If they request, the civic body will collect only
non-biodegradable waste fit for recycling.
These guidelines will come into force within one and a half months.
Briefing
on plastic and solid waste management programmes here on Monday,
Municipal Commissioner S. Saravanan said all shops selling and using
plastic bags should register their names with the municipality by
remitting Rs. 40,000 per annum and get licence to sell plastic bags.
Besides,
each seller would have to pay Rs. 4,000 per month as fees. Such
stringent norms would force sellers and users to shift to alternative
materials.
All residents
would have to segregate waste and hand it over to conservancy workers at
the collection point, failing which they would be fined.
Cumulative method would be adopted for fining regular defaulters.
Recycling of non-biodegradable waste would be done by private parties, he added.
Explaining
the tax structure, Municipal Health Officer S. Ram Kumar said four
slabs of taxes ranging from Rs. 20 to Rs. 200 per month would be levied
from residents on the basis of built area.
Hotels with restaurants and other commercial establishments would have to pay Rs. 7,000 for six months.
If they failed to register their names and remit monthly fees, they could be fined and even shops sealed.
To
ensure 100% collection of waste, 80 conservancy workers in addition to
the existing workers would be hired through private agencies for
door-to-door collection, he added.