Urban News

The Hindu     23.12.2010

Anti-plastic awareness programmes begin in Salem city

Special Correspondent — Photo: P. Goutham

Avoid plastic:A human chain to create awareness on the ill-effects of plastic was organised in Salem on Wednesday.

SALEM: With the city gearing up to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags and other plastic items from January 1, the Salem District administration has launched a series of awareness programmes for a week from Wednesday here.

In association with Salem Corporation, educational institutions and non-governmental organisations, the administration organised a human chain to create awareness on the ill-effects of plastic.

Leading the human chain, Collector J. Chandrakumar said that a ban on non-recyclable plastic bags and cups will come into effect from January 1. Traders and public are asked to refrain from using them.

Those who are found using will be penalized as per the law, he said .

Packing hot food stuff in plastic bags would cause various health problems, he cautioned.

Handbills

Corporation Commissioner Dr. K.S. Palanisamy said that handbills were distributed at various points in the city. Marriage halls and hotels in Salem had been informed about the ban on plastics. The same instructions had been given to educational institutions so that students will be aware of the ills of plastic waste.

Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini, Commissioner Dr K.S. Palanisamy, environmentalists and others took part in the human chain, which was formed between Four Roads and New Bus stand.

The Deccan Chronicle  14.12.2010

Dec. 13: The Unesco declared world heritage site Mahabalipuram would soon be rid of plastics less than 20 microns. The town panchayat has decided to impose a ban from February 10 next year.

As tourism is the mainstay activity here, the traders, hoteliers and vendors have agreed to use biodegradable products. According to sources, the Mahabalipuram town panchayat has been enthused over the overwhelming response from the public and stakeholders, at a meeting held in the town on December 9 to elicit public opinion over the ban on the use of plastics in the international tourist spot.

According to sources, the dumping of plastic cups and carry bags is becoming a problem to the town panchayat in disposing them and was also causing environment pollution besides posing risk to health. Realising the magnitude of the problem, a non-governmental organisation, Hand in Hand, mooted out the idea of enforcing a ban as has been done in Kanyakumari with tremendous success.

A team comprising the town panchayat councilors led by chairman Yashwant Rao and members from the NGO undertook a visit to the Land’s end on October 23 and 24 and studied the successful implementation, says C. Selvakumar, project director of Hand in Hand.