Concerns about the continued sale and use of banned single-use plastics in Mangaluru were raised during the Mayor’s monthly phone-in event on Tuesday. Savitha Lobo from Ashoknagar and Jayaprakash from Yekkur called on Mayor Manoj Kumar to take stronger action and make the city free from these harmful plastic products.
Both callers questioned how shops are still selling banned plastic items, despite the city corporation having the legal authority to revoke trade licenses. They urged the corporation to target the source of the problem, including factories within the city’s jurisdiction that are manufacturing banned plastic items.
In his response, the Mayor assured that the corporation would raid such manufacturing units within the week. Additionally, he announced that the civic body has organized an awareness program on November 21 to educate manufacturers, shopkeepers, caterers, and others about the ban on single-use plastics.
The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended, provide a statutory framework to enforce the ban on single-use plastics, which became effective on July 1, 2022. The banned items include ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic flags, straws, cutlery, polystyrene decorations, plastic carry bags below 75 microns, and more. These measures are part of ongoing efforts to reduce plastic pollution in the region.
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