Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JS/EP)

Udupi, July 20: District administration officials raided shops at Manipal that were selling single-use plastic items and seized 158 kilos of the substance on Thursday and also collected a fine of Rs 24,000 from them.

Municipal council environment engineer, senior health inspector, junior health inspector, sanitary supervisor and civil workers took part in the raids.

As much as 262 kilos of the banned single-use plastic items were seized and a fine of Rs 54,500 collected from traders and business establishments in Udupi during July so far. Shops that did not use single-use plastic items were declared as green organisations. The municipal commissioner has asked all the business establishments to give up single-use plastic and get their businesses declared as green.

In a press note by CMC commissioner, shops and business establishments have been urged to use reusable items such as steel tumblers, steel plates etc. during weddings, celebrations and in hotels and thereby reduce the generation of trash. The commissioner has urged the citizens and the business establishments to make Udupi trash free to maintain health and protect the environment.