A day after its crackdown on plastic manufacturing units in the city, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) stepped up its drive by carrying out surprise raids on shops, including those belonging to plastic dealers, on Thursday.
A large quantity of plastic items like cups, spoons, and carry bags were seized from shops in Bandipalya when a team of MCC officials led by Commissioner G. Jagadeesha carried out a raid.
The plastic items seized were in such a huge quantity that they were taken away in five trucks, officials said.
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Mr. Jagadeesha charged the shopkeepers of spoiling the city by selling plastic items that had been banned by the State government.
Though the State government issued a notification in March 2016 banning the use of plastic irrespective of its thickness (earlier only plastic thinner than 40 mm was banned), plastic carry bags were a common sight in most provision stores as well as roadside vendors.
Similarly, plastic cups and plastic spoons continue to be used in tea shops and roadside eateries as well as by caterers, who also use plastic sheets for spreading on the dining table. Plastic also continues to be used extensively in different parts of the city and the shops continue to sell them. Even as the MCC team carried out raids in Bandipalya against the sale of plastic, several shopkeepers dealing in plastic items pulled down their shutters, locked their shops, and fled.
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Thursday’s action against shops selling plastic items follows a similar exercise by the MCC officials on Wednesday when they raided plastic manufacturing units and seized more than 120 kg of plastic carry bags and other items. Apart from seizing plastic carry bags at a textile shop on C.V. Road, the corporation also raided two units in Bannimantap and Tilak Nagar that were manufacturing plastic covers.
The crackdown against plastic comes in the wake of a recent meeting convened by Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, who directed the officials to take stern action against the violators.