VMC to ban plastic bags: Collector

Vijayawada: District Collector Md Imtiaz said that total ban will be imposed on plastic carry bags in the city by releasing a Gazette notification in a couple of days. As part of measures to prevent pollution, they will hold several awareness programmes in the city.

Addressing media along with Municipal Commissioner V Prasanna Venkatesh here on Friday. he said they were going to organise 'Mana Vijayawada' programme in a big way to sensitise people on ill effects of using plastic from July 30.

The Collector stated that an initiative by Vijayawada Municipal Corporation and the District Administration to organise a series of stakeholder meetings that are with RWA, commercial entities, the NGOs and individual entities such as bars, hotels, hospitals and butchers with a slogan of Mana Vijayawada with a tag line 'Be a part of The Solution, Not part of The Pollution'.

He also said alternative arrangements such as cotton cloth bags, paper bags, cups, adda leaves, palm boxes will be taken up with the support of SHG, NGOs or the CSR programmes and take up training to SHGs in making such alternative products in the place of single-use plastic. They are also planning to set up demonstration units across the city.

The Collector said they would interact with public on Tuesday and Wednesday and explain the ill-effects of plastic use. He informed that special drive would be conducted with cooperation of Municipal Corporation, Police and the Commercial Tax Department.

He said they will control the plastic carry bags from entering the city and will also promote on social media. He said a recycling park would be set up in the city. As part of awareness among public, they would conduct various forms of competitions for students on the risks of using plastic.

VMC Commissioner V Prasanna Venkatesh said the use of plastic carry bags can be regulated with public participation only. He said they planned to make cotton bags with the cooperation of SHGs. Mass drives of campaigning would be conducted with huge participation of citizens of city and make them take oath not to use plastic carry bags.