Kochi: The Kochi corporation has seized more than one tonne of banned plastic materials with thickness of less than 50 microns from wholesale traders in the Ernakulam market on Monday.
During a raid conducted by a team led by health committee standing committee chairperson Pratibha Ansari, three wholesale shops were found to have stocked huge quantities of thin plastic packaging materials.
“We have served notices on traders several times and issued warnings. But they paid scant regard to such communications and continued the sale of thin plastic carry bags. Hence, the civic administration has launched a drive to seize banned products,” said Ms Ansari.
The inspection on wholesale traders and godowns selling plastic packaging materials will continue in coming days, she added.
During a recent council meeting, Mayor Soumini Jain had lashed out at the health officials for not taking measures to strictly enforce the ban on plastic materials with thickness of less than 50 microns. The health officer had informed the council that only 160 kilograms of plastic could be seized so far.
Health committee member V.P. Chandran, councillor K.A Francis, health inspectors, joint health inspectors and other officials were part of the inspection.
