The Times of India  10.08.2010

Plastic bags banned in Karwar city limits

KARWAR: The Karwar City Municipal Council (CMC) has banned the use of non-standard plastic bags in the city limits. In a notice, the CMC has banned the storage and distribution of plastic bans in public places like shops, commercial buildings, hotels, cinema halls and choultries (marriage/ convention halls).

Karwar CMC president Ganapati Ulvekar and commissioner A D Revanakar, in a notification, have said plastic bags are harming the environment. "Every year, more than on lakh cattle die by consuming plastic bags. Fishes are also dying in large numbers because of the same reason. The plastic bags, besides being difficult to be destroyed, do not get decomposed easily. It takes over 1,000 years for a plastic bag to get decomposed in the soil.." the notification said.

The move follows an order issued by the Union ministry of forest and environment. Accordingly, the CMC has banned the bags (below 20x30 sqcm) manufactured by using virgin/ recycled plastic below 20 microns. The use of 50 bags whose total weight is less than 105 g has also been banned in the city limits.

After August 15, those found selling or possessing plastic bags not conforming to the standards will be liable for punishment. They will be prosecuted under Sections 5 and 15 of Environment (Protection) Law (1986), the release added.