Bangalore: Shettar to Completely Shut Doors on Use of Plastic Carry Bags

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 3: A total ban on use of plastic carry bags, of even those higher than 40 microns in thickness, will be enforced in Karnataka soon and an official government order to this effect will come into effect in another fortnight.

Announcing the State Government’s decision, Karnataka’s Minister for Ecology and Environment Sogadu Shivanna said the official order banning the use of all types of plastic carry bags would be issue after consulting the Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.

Use of plastic carry bags had contributed to the decline in soil fertility and choking of lakes and urban drainage systems posing a serious ecological and environmental hazard, the minister said.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and Environment Department would enforce the ban with the support and cooperation of urban local bodies and NGOs, the Minister said.

The Minister, who held a meting with officials of the KSPCB last week, told reporters that the State Government had banned use of plastic bags less than 40 microns.

A decision has now been taken to ban plastic carry bags of even more than 40 microns.

An order to ban use of plastic carry bags would be issued after discussion with theChief Minister, he said.

Environmentalists, NGOs and officials have expressed their support to the ban use of plastic bags, he said pointing out that the Supreme Court had recently issued notice to the State governments on a plea seeking complete ban of use of plastic bags in the country.

The Minsiter said penalty would be imposed on those who continue to use plastic carry bags.

Apart from causing harm to soil fertility, plastic bags block absorption of water in the soil. Further, most of lakes and urban drainage systems were getting choked because of plastic bags, Shivanna said.

For treating sewerage water, the Minister said common effluent treatment plants (CETP) would be established in Bangalore and other cities of the State.

The CETP located at Urban Eco Park at Peenya had stopped functioning for the last two years.

Officials have been instructed to repair the plant and establish plants at industrial zones in the state, he said.

Emphasising the need for creating more awareness about environment, he said the Department has written a letter to the Primary and Secondary Education Department to take necessary steps to include environment in the school syllabus.

All services provided by the KSPCB would be brought under the Sakala scheme of the government, he said.

The functioning of the KSPCB needs to be streamlined, he said pointing out that officials have not been visiting fields.

Instead of visiting various factories to control pollution, the officials were busy in issuing no-objection certificates (NoCs) for housing and commercial complexes.

The Board has not taken any action to simplify procedures related to issue of NoCs to housing complexes and commercial buildings.

The department was seriously considering transfer powers of issuing NoCs from the Board to the Department Secretary to ensure greater accountability, he added.