The Hindu : Ban on plastic carry-bags imminent

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Ban on plastic carry-bags imminent

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 15. The Government will soon ban plastic carry-bags in the State. A recommendation to this effect has already been made to the Government to prevent the use of plastic bags of less than 40 microns thickness, Cherkalam Abdulla, Minister for Local Self-Governments, said in the State Assembly today.

Joining the issue, the Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman, immediately announced a ban on plastic carry-bags on the premises of the State Legislature. His announcement came soon after the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, referred to the plastic menace.

The Government issued an order to the effect that unauthorised constructions, if found to be for residential purpose, be issued temporary house numbers, to facilitate the payment of tax and for obtaining ration cards and water and electricity connections. However, there was no question of legalising such unauthorised constructions, Mr. Abdulla said in reply to another set of questions.

As many as 5,215 complaints have been registered with the Ombudsman till the first week of this month, out which 3,681 have been disposed of, Mr. Abdulla said.

The State Government was aware of the fact that several foreign countries, especially Germany, were aspiring to secure patents for Ayurvedic medicines, which were purely of Indian origin, informed P. Sankaran, Minister for Health. The Department of Health would take adequate steps to obtain patients for Ayurvedic drugs, he added.

The Chief Minister informed the House that there was no question of withdrawing the decision to effect `dies non' on the State Government employees who struck work for 32 days last year. There was a proposal to provide training in public relations to the Government employees. This formed part of the modernisation of governance.

Family courts would be set up in the five districts where it did not exist now. Vigilance cases, numbering 511, were now pending before courts. They included cases against 117 police personnel as well, Mr. Antony informed.

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