<p> Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, on Tuesday, directed the local bodies in the district to impose a total ban on plastic, complying with the government’s decision to ban all types of plastic in the State.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Presiding over a meeting held in this regard, the deputy commissioner announced launching of a ‘plastic-free’ exercise by getting rid of such materials in all government offices on April 23, in an attempt to instil a sense of responsibility among various department heads. The following day, April 24, will be observed as ‘Anti-Plastic Day’, by taking out a campaign, involving students, local bodies and district administration.<br /><br />The deputy commissioner asked the local bodies like gram panchayats and taluk panchayats to take a cue from Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) that has already banned all types of plastic under its limits. It is in the interest of conserving environment.<br /><br />Saying that awareness campaigns should be undertaken, the DC told the authorities concerned to go door-to-door and distribute pamphlets. The walls on the main roads in the villages should be painted with messages on the health hazards of plastics. The officials, including tahsildars, executive officers of taluk panchayats and chief officers of urban local bodies (ULBs), should work in tandem in this regard, she added.<br /><br />Besides, the officers should be aware of the powers vested in them, as the law empowers the officials to initiate stringent action against those who violate law. Any type of plastic carry-bags, cups, plates, sheets, spoons, flags, flex-boards, posters and other materials made of plastic are banned. There is also a cap on the storage, sales and also distribution of such materials. In case of violations, action can be initiated. The message on plastic ban should reach every household through students. For this, the Education department should take measures to rope in headmasters to distribute letters with awareness slogans to parents, Shikha said.<br /><br />Awareness <br /><br />As an alternative to plastic, awareness should be created about paper bags, gunny bags and also other environment-friendly materials. The officials should take up the task on priority as excessive use of plastic is a major reason for pollution of water bodies.<br /><br />MCC Commissioner C G Betsurmath said, “The corporation has effectively implemented the order, by conducting regular raids and also penalising the offenders, besides seizing plastic goods in large numbers.”<br /><br />Planning director, district urban development cell, Chikka Nanjaiah said, “Only exclusive plastic industries set up in special economic zones (SEZ), industries producing plastic for export purpose, plastic used in factories to pack products and at processing plants, plastic used in Forest and Horticulture departments for nurseries and for packing milk and its other products, are exempted from the ban.”<br /><br />Assistant Commissioner (Hunsur sub-division) Shilpa Nag, Executive Engineer, district urban development cell, Shivaprakash Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer Kuberappa, Executive Officers Krishnaraju, Mahadeva Swamy and Krishnakumar, Tahsildars Venkatachalappa and Shoolagaiah, and Chief Officer of Town Municipal Council, Nanjangud, Vijay attended the meeting.<br /><br /></p>
<p> Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, on Tuesday, directed the local bodies in the district to impose a total ban on plastic, complying with the government’s decision to ban all types of plastic in the State.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Presiding over a meeting held in this regard, the deputy commissioner announced launching of a ‘plastic-free’ exercise by getting rid of such materials in all government offices on April 23, in an attempt to instil a sense of responsibility among various department heads. The following day, April 24, will be observed as ‘Anti-Plastic Day’, by taking out a campaign, involving students, local bodies and district administration.<br /><br />The deputy commissioner asked the local bodies like gram panchayats and taluk panchayats to take a cue from Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) that has already banned all types of plastic under its limits. It is in the interest of conserving environment.<br /><br />Saying that awareness campaigns should be undertaken, the DC told the authorities concerned to go door-to-door and distribute pamphlets. The walls on the main roads in the villages should be painted with messages on the health hazards of plastics. The officials, including tahsildars, executive officers of taluk panchayats and chief officers of urban local bodies (ULBs), should work in tandem in this regard, she added.<br /><br />Besides, the officers should be aware of the powers vested in them, as the law empowers the officials to initiate stringent action against those who violate law. Any type of plastic carry-bags, cups, plates, sheets, spoons, flags, flex-boards, posters and other materials made of plastic are banned. There is also a cap on the storage, sales and also distribution of such materials. In case of violations, action can be initiated. The message on plastic ban should reach every household through students. For this, the Education department should take measures to rope in headmasters to distribute letters with awareness slogans to parents, Shikha said.<br /><br />Awareness <br /><br />As an alternative to plastic, awareness should be created about paper bags, gunny bags and also other environment-friendly materials. The officials should take up the task on priority as excessive use of plastic is a major reason for pollution of water bodies.<br /><br />MCC Commissioner C G Betsurmath said, “The corporation has effectively implemented the order, by conducting regular raids and also penalising the offenders, besides seizing plastic goods in large numbers.”<br /><br />Planning director, district urban development cell, Chikka Nanjaiah said, “Only exclusive plastic industries set up in special economic zones (SEZ), industries producing plastic for export purpose, plastic used in factories to pack products and at processing plants, plastic used in Forest and Horticulture departments for nurseries and for packing milk and its other products, are exempted from the ban.”<br /><br />Assistant Commissioner (Hunsur sub-division) Shilpa Nag, Executive Engineer, district urban development cell, Shivaprakash Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer Kuberappa, Executive Officers Krishnaraju, Mahadeva Swamy and Krishnakumar, Tahsildars Venkatachalappa and Shoolagaiah, and Chief Officer of Town Municipal Council, Nanjangud, Vijay attended the meeting.<br /><br /></p>
