The Hindu 10.08.2012
Kottayam Municipality enforces ban on plastic items
The Kottayam Municipality has commenced operations to
enforce the ban on plastic items. The authorities have launched a drive
to inspect commercial establishments to make sure the ban is adhered to.
Though
the municipality accepted the decision of the District Administration
in June, a formal ban came into effect only on August 1.
It
was later announced that raids would be conducted in all parts of the
town to ensure the public abided by the directive. The raids conducted
on Wednesday, near the Municipal office, revealed that only a few
establishments complied with the ban.
A team led by Municipal standing committee (health) chairman V.K. Anil Kumar seized 18 kgs of plastic carry bags.According
to Mr. Anil Kumar, the seized articles have been stored in a room of
the Municipal office for the time being. He said that the State
government has assured to provide a plastic shredder machine.
The seized plastic, after it is shredded, can be mixed with bitumen for tar-topping roads, said Mr. Kumar.As
per the directive, establishments have been banned from using plastic
bags thinner than 40 microns. An additional charge must be levied for
those bags that are 40 microns or thicker.
Kottayam
Municipal secretary P. Indrabalan Pillai said wholehearted efforts have
been made to discourage the use of plastic items. To ensure the
inspections are effective the Municipal authorities have constituted
separate teams for various areas, viz. General zone (the locality around
the Municipal office and erstwhile B zone of Nagampadom), A zone
(Kanjikkuzhy), C zone (Market), D zone (Thiruvatthukal), Nattakom zone
and Kumaranalloor zone. The inspections in each zone will be led by the
Health Inspectors concerned. Two Junior Health Inspectors will be made
available for each zone. Commercial establishments that violate the ban
can be imposed fines ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 10,000 depending upon
the nature of violation, authorities informed.
- 18 kgs of plastic bags seized in raid
- Violation of ban will invite fines up to Rs. 10,000