Mangalore: Plastic Ban - MCC Catches Shopkeepers Unawares
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Apr 2: The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) on Saturday April 2 came down heavily on shop owners for flouting the rule against use of plastic bags below 40 microns.
Raids were carried out by the MCC officials in the central market area, led by MCC commissioner Dr K N Vijayprakash. Large quantities of plastic bags were seized and but left off with a stern warning of further action and hefty fines if they continued to break the law.
Addressing the media on the occasion, Vijayprakash said that polythene bags below 40 microns were harmful to the environment as they reduce soil fertility and also poison the substance that are packed in them. The shopkeepers had been given stringent warnings against their use, he said, and lamented that the warning had not been taken seriously.
He also appealed to the public to cooperate with the authorities and not to use banned plastics, and instead use cloth bags for shopping.
Plastics below 40 microns have been banned within city limits according to a 2011 amendment to the Environment Protection Act.
The ban applies to shops, hotels, fruit and vegetable vendors, meat shops and bakeries.
Environment officer Manjunath, health inspectors Basavaraj and Babu Mallan, assistant health officer Krishnappa Gowda and revenue officer Meghan were part of the operation.