The city Corporation seized over 1,500 kg of plastic carry bags and non-woven polypropelene bags from commercial enterprises around the city on Wednesday, with the ban on the said items coming into force.
Apart from carry bags, plastic sheets, and covers used to parcel food were also confiscated.
Around 350 enterprises, including those in major commercial areas such as Palayam, East Fort, and Nanthancode, were raided and given statutory notices by the Corporation’s special squads. The raids were centred around the 25 health circle offices of the Corporation.
Sustained effort
Inspections of this manner will be continued until the ban finds success in putting an end to the plastic menace, Corporation health standing committee chairman K.K. Sreekumar told The Hindu . Although certain traders’ associations had expressed their opposition to the ban, they did not hinder the enforcement process, he said.
Plastic bags were also collected from visitors at the Corporation’s office, who were instead given paper for wrapping their possessions. Arrangements were also made at the office for the sale of cloth bags.
Efforts have also begun, as part of the preliminary phase of the ban, to create awareness among people found carrying plastic bags about the harmful effects of plastic, said an official release.
