Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) officials launched a drive against plastic in the twin cities on Friday.
A team led by Assistant Commissioner Santosh Anishettar recovered about three quintals of plastic carry bags and other materials from shops in Nehru Market, Super Market and Subhas Road. The operation began early in the morning and went on for four hours. When the HDMC staff barged into the shops and started taking out food stuff packed in plastic covers, the shop keepers opposed it. The officials then instructed the staff not to touch food stuff.
Mr. Anishettar said that the officials raided four shops belonging to distributors of plastic materials on the first day and seized nearly five quintals of plastic materials including plastic plates, tumblers, plastic-coated paper plates, thermocol plates and others, he said.
The State government had recently issued circulars banning plastic. Based on the circular, the HDMC issued notices to distributors and shop keepers asking them to stop selling plastic materials.
Along with raiding shops, the officials are targeting distributors too. “Some of the distributors closed down their shops on Friday after receiving information about the drive. The drive will continue for a few more days, Mr. Anishettar said.
The HDMC officials also raided several shops in Butter market and Ullagaddi Oni areas and seized nearly 150 kgs of banned plastic materials. Nearly 120 kgs of plastic materials were seized from a single shop, the officials said.
