A ban on use of plastic carry bags will come into force from August 1 and stern action will be taken against traders selling the bags and using them, Municipal Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu has said.
Licenses of shops using the bags would be cancelled and hefty penalty imposed, he said at a meeting of zone commissioners and assistant medical officers.
Raids would be conducted against plastic bag manufacturers and stockists. He said traders had been told a month ago that the ban would come into force from August 1. An extensive campaign will also be launched through slides in cinema halls, TV, and FM radio to create awareness among people.
Sanitation
At a separate meeting, Mr. Ramanjaneyulu said sanitation workers should be made accountable for sanitation for stretches between 300 m and 500 m from August 1.
A similar approach should be adopted for lifting garbage and cleaning the drains.
The Chief City Planner, Additional Commissioners (General and Finance), Chief Medical Officer (Health), Additional Commissioner (Projects), and Chief Engineer have been appointed special officers for the six zonesc.
Beach walk
Collector and Chairman of District Sports Authority Lav Agarwal will flag off a beach walk being organised by the Vizag Working Journalists Mutually-Aided Cooperative House-building Society and the Visakha Sports Journalists Association in association with Andhra University on Sunday morning to create awareness among the people to make the city a plastic-free zone. Rector of AU P.V.G.D. Prasada Reddy and others will participate.
The programme is planned on the eve of the ban on indiscriminate use of plastics coming into effect from August 1. The organisers appealed to the journalists and students to participate in the walk in large numbers.
