After enforcing the ban on plastic covers at commercial establishments, the civic body is planning to curb the menace at the source.
Municipal Corporation Commissioner J. Nivas told the media that the hypermarkets had replaced plastic bags with cloth bags. The focus would now be on big restaurants and hotels, he said.
“We are also motivating manufacturers and dealers. So far sale of only 50 microns and above plastic products is being allowed and very soon total ban will be imposed,” Mr. Nivas said.
“However, we have to conduct meetings with the manufacturers and the dealers before going for a total ban. Though a resolution had been passed by the council the dealers are seeking time. We will emulate the Tirupati model by consulting the dealers repeatedly.”
He said a fine of ₹50,000 had been collected in a single day from the plastic manufacturers recently. Major focus would be on single-use plastic products.
Alternative to composting
The VMC had set up a bio-methanisation plant to treat garbage at Ajith Singh Nagar. An alternative to composting, It would be able to treat 20 tonnes of garbage per day and cost ₹2.8 crore.
About the ongoing biomining process at the dumping yard, Mr. Nivas said so far 75,000 tonnes of the 2 lakh tonnes was treated.
He said toilets in all municipal schools and several areas were being renovated and new units were being built. On road extension projects, he said bonds for 53 property owners for Christurajpuram Road and 111 property owners on Bandar road in Patamata were already given and the work would begin soon.
