The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Coprration (GHMC) has decided to impose a strict ban on manufacture, use and storage of any kind of plastic bags from July.
The civic body is keen to encourage use of bags made of cloth and jute material. Before implementing the ban, GHMC officials are planning to create awareness on the use of bags made of recyclable material, from this month.
Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy recently held a meeting with associations of retailers, hotels, kirana, sweet and other shops to discuss the ban on use of plastic bags. She appealed to denizens not to use plastic and help the GHMC in protecting the environment.
She said the GHMC is committed to implement the ban on use of plastic and take all necessary steps like creating awareness through posters, banners, SMSes and slides in cinema theatres and visual media, on the health hazards caused by use of plastic.
The city is facing a lot of problems with waste plastic blocking nalas and making cleaning of nalas a tedious affair. Some shop owners suggested the implementation of the ban in a phased manner for effective results and proper customer education.


Ban on polythene carry bags from July 1

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will strictly enforce ban on polythene carry bags in Greater Hyderabad limits from July 1. Any trader violating the ban will have to cough up a hefty penalty (10 times of licence fee) or risk closure of the business establishment. Also, a steep fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on individuals found using polythene carry bags.
The corporation will take up an awareness campaign in June through hoardings, advertisements, slides in cinema halls, etc.
Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, mayor Banda Karthika Reddy said the decision to ban polythene carry bags was taken as they were causing pollution and harming environment.
"Plastic is also causing water stagnation as drains are getting choked with such bags," she added.
Karthika Reddy said the ban on plastic was being implemented in major parks since November 14, 2010, and all colony parks from January 1, 2011.

"The GHMC standing committee has also approved the ban on plastic carry bags in open places, markets and parks irrespective of size and microns in November last," the mayor added.
The corporation has taken up awareness campaign among people and also conducted meetings with plastic bag manufacturers in the past two months. It would now be intensified, she said.
"We will take a self-declaration from traders, who come for new or renewal of their trade licence, that the establishment will not use, store or manufacture plastic bags," Karthika Reddy said.
"A hefty penalty will be collected from traders violating the ban on usage of plastic bags like 10 times their trade licence fee," she added.
The mayor said for enforcement of the ban, all deputy municipal commissioners have been designated as chief enforcement officers and assistant medical officers of health as additional chief enforcement officers at the
circle level.


Source:TOI