'Hotels targeted in the name of enforcing plastic ban'

Hotel Owners' Association to stage day-long protest

In what may put foodies into trouble, hotels in Mysuru may observe a day-long bandh, if the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) fails to heed to their demand. This follows frequent raids on hotels by gangmen attached to the MCC to enforce total ban on plastic, complying with the state government’s order.

President of Hotel Owners’ Association C Narayan Gowda told media, recently, the hoteliers had decided to give a 10-day deadline to the MCC, from May 20. If the authorities concerned fail to respond, a protest will be staged on May 31 in front of the MCC main office on New Sayyaji Rao Road. If the authorities do not listen, a day-long bandh will be observed, warned Gowda.

Gowda said, in the name of plastic ban, gangmen attached to Abhaya, an emergency wing of MCC are raiding hotels, sweet marts and bakeries. The recent raid was on New Bombay Tiffanis on D Devaraj Urs Road on May 16, where paper plates, cups and other articles were also confiscated, without serving any prior notice on the trader.

Anil Kumar C, proprietor of Tiffanis, said, according to the raid party, the said articles were seized as they had plastic coating on them. “It was in contrary to the gazette notification (March 11, 2016), where it is clearly stated that ‘manufacture, supply, sale and use of plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic buntings, flex, plastic flags, plastic plates, plastic cups and spoons, cling films and plastic sheets used for spreading on dining table including the above items made of thermocol and plastic, which use plastic micro breads’,” he said.

Kumar questioned, when there are clear directions in the gazette on plastic, why are the hoteliers deliberately targeted? He claimed, he has been using disposable wooden spoons, though priced Rs 2 a piece, only in the interest of customers health.

Gowda, who intervened, said, it was only when the officer of a particular zone that raided the eatery, was apprised of banned and non-banned items, did they return the seized articles.

“When the matter was brought to the notice of Mayor B L Bhyrappa and MCC Commissioner C G Betsurmath, they claimed innocence and passed the buck on zonal officers,” he added.

Gowda demanded the MCC officials to suggest an alternative to plastic, for the benefit of hoteliers, by holding a meeting in this regard.