Drive against plastic flops

Kochi: The Kochi corporation, which is all set to enforce a ban on thin plastic carry bags from August 15, has failed in conducting the drive to seize the thin plastic packaging materials in an effective way. Since March 1, when the civic body initiated the drive, only 143 kilograms of banned carry bags were seized while nearly 70 tonnes of plastic packaging materials are being brought to the city a day. Though carry bags for traders across the district are sold from the wholesale dealers in Ernakulam, majority of the stock is being sold in city itself.

During a recent council meeting, the corporation officials informed the mayor that only 143.60 kilograms of thin carry bags were seized from the more than 180 shops and firms inspected.

Meanwhile, CPM councillor K.C Peter came down heavily on the ‘apathetic’ approach of the officials and asked the mayor to take necessary measures to intensify the drive. “The inspection on shops is merely an eyewash and the officials are not committed to enforcing ban on thin plastic carry bags. The officials haven’t inspected the wholesale dealers in the market and the Broadway,” he alleged.

While replying to the debate, mayor Soumini Jain asked health committee chairperson Pratibha Ansari to monitor the inspection drive on a daily basis.

The city corporation has decided to strictly enforce the ban on the sale and use of plastic carry bags with thickness of less than 50 microns from August 15 in the wake of recent massive fire at Brahmapuram waste treatment plant and the increasing menace of plastic garbage. The civic body has procured 10 gauge micrometres to help civic officials in checking the thickness of carry bags.

The city is generating more than 130 tonnes of plastic waste every day.