The Hindu 30.11.2009
Ambattur Municipality may ban plastic bags
K. Lakshmi
CHENNAI: The Ambattur Municipality proposes to introduce ban on use of plastic bags that are less than 20 microns thick in the area soon.
A resolution was approved by the council recently. The local body plans to sensitise people about environmental hazards and use of alternative materials such as paper bags. Members of women’s self-help groups would also be trained in making paper bags.
While a fee is proposed to be collected from owners of marriage halls to collect additional garbage, penalty would be levied on shopkeepers who sell plastic bags of low thickness. However, these measures would be implemented in February after public discussion. The municipality also plans to procure 45 iron bins.
Municipal Commissioner Ashish Kumar said all health posts, bill collection centres and municipal office would be enabled with CCTV facility to monitor the activities in two months. Moreover, electronic digital boards would also be installed in municipal office, health posts and Ambattur OT bus stand at an estimated cost of Rs.3 lakh to provide information such as contact numbers of municipality officials and services.
However, resolutions pertaining to collection of fee from mobile operators for installing mobile phone towers and rates for sewage disposal were dropped following objections from councillors.
Some of the other resolutions approved by the council include purchase of 17 hand-held billing machines for property tax collection and construction of Rs.24 lakh worth stormwater drain from Vallayapathi Street, Mogappair to Padi Kuppam Road covering a distance of one km.
