R. Somashekar from Tumkur had come along with his family members to Panambur beach on Friday. “Where is the ban on plastic use,” he asked when told about the plastic bag he was carrying. “There is nothing here about the ban,” he said.
Mr. Somashekar was among the many visitors to the Panambur beach carrying snacks and water bottles in plastic carry bags despite the ban. A hotel next to the arch leading to the beach was found displaying plastic carry bags and selling plastic glasses, which had been banned too. The boards displayed on the ban were lying in the corner.
This was the scene at the Panambur beach on the first day of the ban imposed by the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner H.N. Channappa Gowda.
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On July 12, Mr. Gowda declared Panambur and Thannirbhavi beaches as plastic and garbage free zones and banned the use and sale of plastic covers, glasses, plates, and other plastic products at the two beaches.
The ban came into effect on Friday. On the concrete road leading to the Thannirbhavi beach, private security guards stopped people at the check-post near IOCL terminal and checked vehicles for plastic articles.
“We have been asked to check only the tourist vehicles,” said an official from the private security agency said.
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