In compliance with the recent order of the State government, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has banned all types of plastic in the city with immediate effect.
Addressing media, on Wednesday, here, Mayor B L Bhyrappa announced, “It is the duty of the MCC to retain the ‘cleanest city’ tag. To achieve this, a ban on usage of all types of plastic is a major step and hence the decision”.
The MCC has already adopted the diktat, by prohibiting the use of plastic at its main office on New Sayyaji Rao Road and its nine zonal offices, declaring them as ‘plastic-free offices’.
Reading out the government order issued on March 11, Bhyrappa said, “Under Section five of Environment Conservation Act, 1986, usage of plastic carry bags, posters, flex, flags, plates, cups, spoons and table rolls made of plastic are prohibited, along with making and supply of products using thermocol and plastic micro beads. No industry or individual should use such plastic materials, as the order is intended at effectively checking the environment hazards”.
However, exemption is given to plastic materials produced exclusively for export at plastic industries or special economic zones, plastic bags used during packaging and sealing at treatment plants, plastic bags or sheets used in nurseries by the Horticulture department and also other government departments like Forest and plastic used for packing milk and its products.
The MCC commissioner, along with health officers, engineers and assistant commissioners, followed by tahsildar, commercial tax department officials and controller and deputy controller of the Legal Metrology department are vested with the powers to implement the order.
In case of violations, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioners, regional environment officers can initiate action, the mayor added.
If the industrialists are found violating the order, stringent action will be initiated against them by cancelling their trade licence and filing of a case in the court under section 19 of Environment Conservation Act, 1986, warned the mayor.
The mayor said, the MCC has already succeeded in closing four big plastic manufacturing plants, while action will be initiated into the complaints about covert supply of plastic materials in Mysuru from Bengaluru.
Posters on banning plastic were released during the media briefing. MCC Commissioner C G Betsurmath, Deputy Mayor G H Vanitha and others were present.
