As part of its Green City mission for the year 2013, the Corporation is planning to relaunch its plan to impose a ban on plastic below 50 microns. Though the civic body had launched a similar initiative last year following the High court order, it failed to implement the plan successfully.
Learning from the past experience, the authorities are planning to organise a one-month-long campaign before bringing into effect the plastic ban from February 15.
“We are planning to launch a campaign to create awareness among the public on the environmental issues created by plastic. The awareness programme which include seminars, projects for school students, special sessions for vendors and merchants will begin by January 15. After the one-month-long campaign, we will impose a total ban on plastic below 50 microns from February 15,” said Corporation health standing committee chairman.
The committee has already formed an implementation committee for planning and monitoring the awareness programmes.
“The first meeting of the implementing committee will be held on Friday. The committee includes representatives of various resident’s associations, heads of various schools, merchant’s union representatives and members of other voluntary associations which actively participate in the city’s development activities,” he said.Ashraf said the implementing committee will meet again next week to finalise the various programmes that will be launched in connection with the awareness campaign.
“From January 15, we are planning to organise special programmes on a daily basis till February 15. Special focus will be given to schools where students will be taught about treating waste at the source itself,” Ashraf said.
The biggest challenge will be to impose a ban on plastic bags below 30 microns, which are commonly used by vegetable vendors and grocery shops.
“We know that a total ban cannot be imposed all of a sudden, especially in the case of carry bags. That is why we are giving one month’s time. The majority of the vendors use to supply essentials in plastic carry bags. Usually, they will not charge for these carry bags. The shopkeepers can finish their existing stock of carry bags, then switch to similar carry bags made of cloth. The cloth bags usually cost `2 and if they want they can even charge for that bags,” added Ashraf.