The State government will impose a complete ban on the manufacture and use of plastic carry bags in a fortnight if Environment Minister Sodagu Shivanna has his way.

Shivanna told reporters on Monday that he was confident of convincing Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar about the need to impose the ban. “Plastic is taking a major toll on the environment and it is high time plastic carry bags are banned completely,” he stated.

Residents of Maraimalai Nagar in Chennai can now hope to get gold without spending any money. All they need to invest is some time and store as many empty plastic sachets, polythene covers and other plastic waste below the thickness of 40 microns.

The local body will give a gram of gold for a minimum of 125 kilograms. “We want to combat the menace caused by plastic waste, especially those below the thickness of 40 microns. While most plastic waste collected from households is recycled by workers engaged in primary collection, discarded water sachets and thin polythene covers end up choking drains and water channels,

Resolution to be forwarded to the govt for approval

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council on Friday passed a resolution to ban plastic bags in the wake of garbage pile-up in the City. The resolution will be forwarded to the State government later. The efficacy of the resolution is doubtful when the BBMP could not enforce its order to ban polythene bags below 40 microns. Despite the ban, plastic bags below 40 microns are used across the City and Palike officials have failed stop their production, sale and use.

Bangalore, the nation’s information technology capital, has entered the second harrowing week of being in threat of drowning in its own garbage because the landfills serving it cannot be used. In the process, the city’s municipal commissioner is being transferred.

The city’s experience offers a lesson to all major urban centres in the country, which will come to grief if they do not follow the right policies. On the other hand, those that have done so like Kanpur and Pune have become role models.

Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has warned traders to refrain from using plastic bags, failing which they could attract a fine of upto Rs 5,000.

It may be recalled Chief Officer Pradip Naik had issued orders banning plastic bags in Ponda municipality from August 16. However, the ban was postponed for a few days after PMC councillors felt that traders should be given sufficient time before implementing the ban. Since August 20, PMC started conducting surprise checks and traders found using plastic carry bags were fined Rs 100. So far, over Rs 3,000 has been collected through fines.

The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the state government to take steps for a complete ban of plastic and sale of materials which are not biodegradable at Sabarimala Sannidhanam.

“All beverages in plastic bottles, including aerated, and snacks in plastic covers should be banned,” the court said. The court had suggested that no articles of food other than ‘kanji’ (rice gruel) and necessary side dishes need to be provided in connection with the Sabarimala festivities and monthly pujas. Following the order no objections have come from any quarters till now, the Devaswom Bench said.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the State government to take steps to impose complete plastic ban and sale of other non-biodegradable materials at the Sannidhanam.

The Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice K. Vinod Chandran pointed out that no objection had been raised from any quarters to its suggestion that no articles of food other than ‘kanji’ (rice gruel) and necessary side dishes need be provided in and around the Sannidhanam and Pampa.

Their mission is to clean and they too are whistleblowers - literally.

Prohibition on the use of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns

The Kottayam Municipality has commenced operations to enforce the ban on plastic items. The authorities have launched a drive to inspect commercial establishments to make sure the ban is adhered to. Though the municipality accepted the decision of the District Administration in June, a formal ban came into effect only on August 1.

District Administration has decided to implement mandatory restrictions on production, sales and usage of plastic containers strictly from August 15.

According to a release District Collector Vijay Pingale has revealed the plan at a meeting of officials convened to discuss the issue here recently. Dr. Pingale said that carry bags and containers used to pack food stuff, medicines and water should be manufactured in white colour or using permissible colourants and pigments as per ISO/ IS: 9833: 1981.