Public cooperation sought in discarding plastic bags, cups

‘Law alone cannot prevent people from using them’

A sapling being planted on the KSRTC bus-stand premises to mark the World Environment Day in Hassan on Saturday. — Photo: Prakash Hassan

R.J. Satish Singh, District and Sessions Judge, Hassan, has called upon the public to do away with plastic bags in the interest of keeping the city clean.

Mr. Singh was speaking at a function organised jointly by the Legal Services Authority and the district administration here on Saturday to mark the World Environment Day. “Till recently, people were using paper bags extensively. Now, the trend has changed as the use plastic bags is gaining popularity. We have to spread awareness against the use of plastic bags and plastic cups, which are harmful to the environment,” he said.

H.N. Gopal Krishna, Additional Deputy Commissioner, said the use of plastic bags of less than 40 microns had been banned.

However, this restriction had not come into effect completely. “Laws alone cannot stop people from using plastic. The public should cooperate with the government machinery in the effective implementation of laws,” he said. Earlier, the officials planted saplings on the premises of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus-stand and took out a

jatha on the main streets of Hassan to spread awareness among the public about the need to conserve environment. Schoolchildren also participated in the jatha. Principal Senior Civil Judge Saraswati Vishnu Kosandar and Deputy Conservator of Forests Ganesh Bhat were present.