Coimbatore : With the ban on single use plastic effective since January 2019, there has been a steady decline on plastic usage in the City. However, in the recent times the usage of banned plastic products are back to usage at many petty shops across the city.
Coimbatore : With the ban on single use plastic effective since January 2019, there has been a steady decline on plastic usage in the City. However, in the recent times the usage of banned plastic products are back to usage at many petty shops across the city.
In a bid to eradicate the usage of banned plastics, the officials from city corporation have been conducting surprise raids from April 22 to 24 at more than 1000 shops across all the five zones.
During the raid, a whooping 330 kg of banned plastic covers were seized from various shops and a fine of Rs.1,59,000 was slapped in the past four days.
Commenting on this an official from the corporation said, "Due to the Parliament election, our officials were not able to concentrate on the raids. As most of our staff were on election duty, many small traders took advantage of the situation and commenced using banned plastic covers. Hence, we have commenced raids to seize banned plastic covers and other substances".
"We have collected Rs. 1.5 lakhs as fine from the violators. However, the real change could be made possible only if there is a change in th mindset of the traders and the people. Our efforts to educate the people and the traders to switch to eco-friendly products will continue. The mindset of the people is the real challenge", opined the official.
He also added that people can complaint on such violations to their concerned zone assistant commissioners.
Seconding his opinion, Raveendran of RAAC, who has been working closely with CCMC opined that "Most of the big brands have accepted the ban and started using alternatives. However, small traders are yet to fully adopt to the change. Such traders are of the view that government would ease the ban shortly and hence they are yet to implement necessary changes to their packaging materials. The mind set of people has to change to bring a real change.".
He also lauded the efforts of the corporation in sensitizing the people and the traders on the availability of alternatives to banned plastic products.
In a bid to eradicate the usage of banned plastics, the officials from city corporation have been conducting surprise raids from April 22 to 24 at more than 1000 shops across all the five zones.
During the raid, a whooping 330 kg of banned plastic covers were seized from various shops and a fine of Rs.1,59,000 was slapped in the past four days.
Commenting on this an official from the corporation said, "Due to the Parliament election, our officials were not able to concentrate on the raids. As most of our staff were on election duty, many small traders took advantage of the situation and commenced using banned plastic covers. Hence, we have commenced raids to seize banned plastic covers and other substances".
"We have collected Rs. 1.5 lakhs as fine from the violators. However, the real change could be made possible only if there is a change in th mindset of the traders and the people. Our efforts to educate the people and the traders to switch to eco-friendly products will continue. The mindset of the people is the real challenge", opined the official.
He also added that people can complaint on such violations to their concerned zone assistant commissioners.
Seconding his opinion, Raveendran of RAAC, who has been working closely with CCMC opined that "Most of the big brands have accepted the ban and started using alternatives. However, small traders are yet to fully adopt to the change. Such traders are of the view that government would ease the ban shortly and hence they are yet to implement necessary changes to their packaging materials. The mind set of people has to change to bring a real change.".
He also lauded the efforts of the corporation in sensitizing the people and the traders on the availability of alternatives to banned plastic products.