The Greater Chennai Corporation and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board have launched a campaign to promote alternatives to plastic bags.
Principal Secretary Environment, Climate Change and Forests Supriya Sahu and Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi started the campaign by distributing jute sacks at Koyambedu market on Saturday. About five thousand bags were distributed on this occasion.
Ms Sahoo tweeted: “Talking to traders at the Koyambedu fruit and vegetables market, I emphasized the need to get rid of disposable plastic bags and bring back our traditional yellow cloth bags. Manjai Pie As we call them in TN we are all eating plastic every week equal to the size of a credit card.” Mr. Bedi said municipal authorities have been directed to confiscate plastic bags and impose fines. “We want We recommend that all shopkeepers use only paper bags and cloth bags so that single use plastic can be avoided in the shops. We have held several meetings with traders, manufacturers of plastic covers and general trade associations. We have asked traders from Koyambedu to use plastic bags. Use of cloth bags to save and give fruits and vegetables.
“We have sent our zonal health teams to T. Nagar, Pursavalakam and Anna Nagar and to check whether shops are using plastic bags, and if so, confiscate these and impose fines on the shops. Right now, our approach will be more persuasive rather than punitive and we will request for community participation in the campaign against plastic,” Mr. Bedi said.
The corporation is planning to involve more NGOs in the programme.
Chief Engineer N. Maheson said officials were focusing on pricing cloth bags and other alternatives to plastic bags. “The city generates over 1,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. Most of the waste is recycled. We have planned to reduce plastic waste in dumps. The initiative of the Center before December 2022 will be important in the campaign against plastic. We have adopted many methods to recycle plastic.
The civic body will take initiatives to prevent plastic pollution in seas and rivers.
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