Mangalore: Plastic Ban - MCC Catches Shopkeepers Unawares


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.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • kidd, mangalore

    Sun, Apr 03 2011

    good. but more stringent actions have to be taken against the companies supplying these plastic bags.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Edward, India

    Sun, Apr 03 2011

    The authorities should promote the use of Jute bags which are re-usable.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Louis D'Souza, Udupi/Kuwait

    Sun, Apr 03 2011

    Plastic should be of 40Microns (160guage) that’s good idea, but govt. should pressurize Plastic bag manufacturers to use “degradable additive” during Blown Film Extrusion Process. After 4 or 5 months the bag will lose its properties and tear into pieces and melts with soil. It’s very hard for shopkeepers to measure the thickness of the bags. They cannot afford to keep thickness gauge meter in their shops. But I am giving a simple formula to calculate weight of bags:
    Width (mm) X Length (mm) X thickness (Microns) x 2 x Density (for HDPE .950) (LDPE .920) (LLDPE .918) = weight of 1 bag. There is different density for each type of Material HDPE, LDPE & LLDPE nowadays to reduce the cost of bags LLDPE used more in bags so need to calculate density according to the mixture of raw materials and additives.
    For Example calculate HDPE Bag (40cmx50cm x40 microns): Formula is: 0.400mm x .500mm x 40Microns x 2 x .950 = 15.2grams. (If it’s a “T Shirt” type handle bags reduce weight by 10 percent as punching waste. And if its kidney Type or Banana type handle reduce just 2 percent as waste from the weight of the bag. So calculate the weight of your bag and check the suppliers bags on any of Gold selling shoppers weighing scale (0.000) and confirm they are giving you right microns or not? Higher microns will benefit the plastic supplier as that will reduce his efforts while extrusion, Flexo printing & Cutting sealing. I am in this Industry "Blown Film Technology" since last 30yrs.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • jerome, muscat/ mangalore

    Sun, Apr 03 2011

    How can a simple shop keeper / a road side seller come to know the thickness? WILL YOU TELL ME ? WHAT THICKNESS IT IS ? WE CAN SAY THIN PLASTIC OR THICK PLASTIC. IT IS WISE... TO SEND THE ABOVE AUTHORITIES TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC PLACES PLASTIC USEAGE. AND HARMFUL ?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • dilkush, kw8

    Sun, Apr 03 2011

    Strategy is good wt if they use 41 microns its legal!!! lets use paper bags instead

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • P.Shirish Kumar Hosabettu, Muscat, Manipala

    Sun, Apr 03 2011

    Yes they have to take action against who are not following the Law & order. But what I feel is better to cut the tree off instead of chopping its branches to get rid of the tree" I mean to say that this poor Vendors purchase this quality of plastic bags to save their overheads to increase their profit. Yes it is illegal but Authorities should find out who is supplying these bags & who is the Manufactures. If they it is manufactured locally then raid their Factory & Offices cancel their licenses or what ever the action , implement on them to stop the availability in the market. Is it not the right way to stop ?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • P.Shirish Kumar Hosabettu, Muscat, Manipala

    Sun, Apr 03 2011

    Yes they have to take action against who are not following the Law & order. But what I feel is better to cut the tree off instead of chopping its branches to get rid of the tree" I mean to say that this poor Vendors purchase this quality of plastic bags to save their overheads to increase their profit. Yes it is illegal but Authorities should find out who is supplying these bags & who is the Manufactures. If they it is manufactured locally then ride their Factory & Offices cancel their licenses or what ever the action , implement on them to stop the availability in the market. Is it not the right way to stop ?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Mangalore

    Sat, Apr 02 2011

    Let the plastic ban policy be implemented with out harrasing the traders.Caution them against the use of plastic bags and give time to impelment the new policy.Peruation always pays.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Stephen, Mangalore/Aust

    Sat, Apr 02 2011

    Good move... Let them use Bio degradable plastic bags or cloth bags which can be used again and again. Fashionable cloth bags can be made available at all shops by MCC and charge them a low price. People will stop using Plastic bag. Plastic shopping bags are now banned in many countries.... paper\cloth bags are used more n more.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Mangalore: Plastic Ban - MCC Catches Shopkeepers Unawares



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.