The city Corporation is on an anti-plastic awareness drive among shopkeepers in the city ahead of serious clampdown on those refusing to fall in line. Over the past two days, squads appointed by the local body have been visiting shops across the city to issue warnings and sensitise them to the need for making the plastic ban a success.
The local body’s ban on the use of plastic carry bags below 50 microns came into effect on July 1. Separate squads have been formed in all health circles to visit shops and issue notices. In addition, a centralised squad has also been formed to conduct random checks in different areas and to monitor the functioning of the circle-based squads.
The squads use micrometers to check whether the carry bags being distributed in each shop are above 50 microns.
Most abide by rule
“From the visits that we conducted in different shops, it seems that most of the shopkeepers have started following the rule. We have issued notices to a few shops that have been found to be still using carry bags below 50 microns. These are mostly smaller shops such as thattukadas, where plastic is used for wrapping food parcels. We will start imposing fines only after a few days,” said an official who is part of the squad.
The Corporation will procure 1 lakh holograms from C-DIT for providing it to wholesale dealers.
The dealers have been asked to affix holograms on plastic carry bags above 50 microns.
Shops have been asked not to provide plastic bags free of cost.
“Our focus is mainly on the cost of the carry bags, which we hope will serve as a deterrent. We have to ensure that the shop keepers do not sell below the prescribed rates,” said the official.
For carry bags between 51 and 60 microns, the proposed rate is Rs.6. Of this, Rs.3 will go to the civic body. For carry bags between 61 and 70 microns, the proposed rate is Rs.7, with the Corporation getting Rs.4. For bags above 70 microns, the proposed rate is Rs.8.
But, awareness of the plastic ban among the general public is still low as shopkeepers still get requests from customers to provide plastic carry bags at the old rates.
