Hassan: Mayor Theerthakumari said that plastic has spoiled the beauty of the town and strict action will be taken against those who sell plastic in violation of the rules.
Speaking at the Municipal premises, she directed the Government to take stringent action on the issue of cleanliness and ban on plastic and under Section 19 of the Act, 1986, a case can be filed in a Court falling under the jurisdiction of respective areas.
“Traders along with people should cooperate in maintaining cleanliness and beautification of the town,” she noted.
In a bid to protect the environment, Municipal Authorities on Tuesday March 7 raided several shops and seized banned plastic plates, cups and covers. Municipal officials raided three shops on Ganigara Street Road and seized more than 70 kgs of plastic stored in the shops.
She warned that if the use of plastic is found during visits to shops from now on, the business licenses of the shops will be cancelled and appropriate action will be taken.
Municipal Health Inspector Jyothi said that the non-recyclable plastic does not dissolve in the land. If it is burned, the pollution will mostly make people fall sick. People need to wake up because cancer is a cause. Instead of using plastic covers, use cloth bags, she said.
Health Authority Lohit said that although plastic handbags were banned under the Provisions of the Management and Regulation of Plastic Materials Rules, 2016, the owners of some of the shops were selling plastic covers without fail and giving it to customers to carry the materials. So today we conducted a raid and seized the plastic items and already informed the owners several times and they are selling them again and again despite three to four raids in the past. From now on, legal action and penalty can be imposed against such shop owners. Also, if the public carries the goods in plastic handbags, a case will also be registered against them. Therefore, the public should be aware of this, he said.
