MC drive against plastic picks up momentum

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 22

A drive initiated by the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda against plastic is gaining momentum in the city. MC officials have been creating awareness about ill-effects of the use of plastic among residents. The civic body has set a target to make Bathinda plastic-free by October 2.

The MC has also formed teams to check and enforce the plastic ban by raiding shops and venders.

Action is being taken against violators. Meanwhile, MC teams and NGOs are also distributing cloth bags among people in markets with an aim to spread awareness about the hafmful effects of plastic.

According to an MC official, the drive has been initiated primarily to educate people instead of punishing them. He said the civic body had been working to reduce the demand for plastic or polythene bags by spreading awareness among the residents.

The MC has taken several measures to create awareness. Its officials have been going door to door in various localities, including Janta Nagar and Godiya Math park, to pursue people not to use plastic.

The MC also organised street plays at the railway station, grain market and Gandhi market. It has also roped in Inner Wheel Club, Senior Citizen Mehla Sangathan and others NGOs for the active participation of people in its drive.

Civic body officials have also been holding meetings with Church Pastor Welfare Association, Ramleela Clubs, associations and NSS volunteers in this regard.

MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill recently held a meeting with hoteliers and members of city hotel and restaurant associations. He assured them of making the hotel industry plastic-free in the city.

Items that has been banned in the notification by the government are plastic carry bags, which has thickness below 50 microns, plastic straws, plastic cups having capacity less than 200 ml, plastic glasses having capacity less than 200 ml, tumblers, plates , bowls, spoons, forks, stirrers and flags made up of plastic.

Other items are plastic sachets used for storing , packing of selling gutka, tobacco and pan masala, water pouches, plastic and thermocol used for decoration purposes. Besides, plastic flex, banner and bottles having capacity less than 200ml have also been banned.

Other products which are part of the list are plastic sheets used for spreading on dining table, cling films used for food wrapping, plastic cover used for covering books, magazines, invitation cards or greeting cards, plastic packets less than 50 microns and multilayer packaging which cannot be recycled.

NGOs roped in for campaign 

• The MC also organised street plays at the railway station, grain market and Gandhi market. It has also roped in Inner Wheel Club, Senior Citizen Mehla Sangathan and others NGOs for the active participation of people in its drive. 
• MC Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill recently held a meeting with hoteliers and members of city hotel and restaurant associations. He assured them of making the hotel industry plastic-free in the city.