Chennai Corporation is considering imposing a ban on use of plastic bags of less than 20 micron thickness in the city.
“We are discussing this with the State government,” Mayor M. Subramanian said here on Friday.
Addressing presspersons on the ‘5 Tens Lights Out Campaign' on global warming, he said the civic body had already banned use of plastic items at the Marina beach and it plans to extend this to the entire city.
The campaign, as part of which lights are to be switched off for 10 minutes from 10 p.m. on October 10, is to create awareness about global warming and environment conservation. Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is scheduled to participate in the campaign, being organised by Exnora International along with other NGOs. A function will be held at Anna University on Sunday evening.
Highlighting the Corporation's initiatives, he said steps are being taken to create a bicycle track in Anna Nagar and rent out bicycles at the Marina beach.
About one lakh college students would be involved in a tree planting drive in the city. To start with, about 10,000 students would plant saplings next week.
On the proposed integrated solid waste management facilities, he said that while work on the facility in Perungudi has been put on hold till the next hearing of National Environment Appellate Authority on October 20, the project at Kondungaiyur would start in about two months.
To a query on the vinyl banners with advertisements on a few buildings on Anna Salai, he said the Corporation would seek legal opinion and accordingly initiate action. The Corporation had recently removed posters on the walls along four arterial roads.
Corporation Commissioner D. Karthikeyan and Exnora International founder M. B. Nirmal were present during the press meet.
