Deccan Chronicle 17.08.2013
GHMC says don’t charge for plastic bags
Hyderabad: Special
teams from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on Friday raided
high-profile showrooms located in GVK One Mall at Banjara Hills as part
of the civic body’s drive to discourage use and sale of plastic carry
bags and promote the eco-friendly cloth and jute bags.
teams from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on Friday raided
high-profile showrooms located in GVK One Mall at Banjara Hills as part
of the civic body’s drive to discourage use and sale of plastic carry
bags and promote the eco-friendly cloth and jute bags.
The
teams led by GHMC assistant medical officer of health Dr T. Damodar
raided five showrooms including Shoppers Stop, Neeru’s, Mother’s Care,
Mebaz and Kalaniketan in GVK One mall at Banjara Hills.
teams led by GHMC assistant medical officer of health Dr T. Damodar
raided five showrooms including Shoppers Stop, Neeru’s, Mother’s Care,
Mebaz and Kalaniketan in GVK One mall at Banjara Hills.
The
raids were conducted following complaints that the showrooms were
openly charging money for plastic carry bags. Though the GHMC had asked
the traders to charge money for plastic carry bags when the ban on below
40 micron carry bags was announced, the orders were withdrawn two
months ago and traders were told to actually shun use and sale of
plastic carry bags and sell cloth bags instead.
raids were conducted following complaints that the showrooms were
openly charging money for plastic carry bags. Though the GHMC had asked
the traders to charge money for plastic carry bags when the ban on below
40 micron carry bags was announced, the orders were withdrawn two
months ago and traders were told to actually shun use and sale of
plastic carry bags and sell cloth bags instead.
In
case the cloth bags stock is exhausted, the traders have to give above
40 microns plastic bags free of cost to customers, he said. As many as
3,500 plastic carry bags of various sizes were seized from the five
showrooms.
case the cloth bags stock is exhausted, the traders have to give above
40 microns plastic bags free of cost to customers, he said. As many as
3,500 plastic carry bags of various sizes were seized from the five
showrooms.
“On non-payment of penalty by Mother’s
Care management, we sealed it. The remaining four showrooms were let
off with a warning after they paid penalties ranging from `25,000 to
`50,000 each,” Dr Damodar said.
Care management, we sealed it. The remaining four showrooms were let
off with a warning after they paid penalties ranging from `25,000 to
`50,000 each,” Dr Damodar said.
The GHMC officials said that two months back a meeting was conducted with representatives of malls and high-profile showrooms.
In
the meeting, the managements were clearly told not to sell plastic
carry bags and also offer cloth and jute bags besides providing some
discount to those coming with their own cloth and jute bags.
the meeting, the managements were clearly told not to sell plastic
carry bags and also offer cloth and jute bags besides providing some
discount to those coming with their own cloth and jute bags.
“Despite
being given sufficient time, the showroom managements failed to fall in
line and discourage use of plastic bags. We are going to continue the
raids in all shops and establishments in the city,” Damodar said.
being given sufficient time, the showroom managements failed to fall in
line and discourage use of plastic bags. We are going to continue the
raids in all shops and establishments in the city,” Damodar said.
Almost every store in the city sells plastic bags for as much as Rs 7 and more, depending upon the size and quality.
“We
are not aware when the GHMC withdrew its orders that made it mandatory
for all stores to charge for plastic carry bags,” said the manager of a
popular store on Prenderghast Road. The ban on sale of plastic bags
thinner than 40 microns came into effect on July 1, 2011.
are not aware when the GHMC withdrew its orders that made it mandatory
for all stores to charge for plastic carry bags,” said the manager of a
popular store on Prenderghast Road. The ban on sale of plastic bags
thinner than 40 microns came into effect on July 1, 2011.
Sources
said that GHMC officials had conducted a meeting with managements,
owners and representatives of a handful of showrooms, stores and malls
in May and June and had told them to stop charging money for the bags.
But it was not communicated to commercial establishments.
said that GHMC officials had conducted a meeting with managements,
owners and representatives of a handful of showrooms, stores and malls
in May and June and had told them to stop charging money for the bags.
But it was not communicated to commercial establishments.
