Local bodies fail to curb plastic use in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Local bodies, including Srikakulam Municipal Corporation and Nagar Panchayat officials and staff, have failed to take initiative in checking use of plastic. With an aim to protect environment, government banned use of plastic goods.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to public not to use plastic products and called for plastic and polythene free India. But officials concerned have failed in conducting awareness drive in educating the people on ill effects of use of plastic.

As per guidelines, officials and staff of local bodies must conduct awareness drive on beating plastic pollution. In the district, there is no reduction in use of plastic in Srikakulam Municipal Corporation, Amudalavalasa, Itchapuram, Palasa, Palakonda, Rajam municipal towns, Sompeta, Tekkali, Pathapatnam, Ranastalam, Narasannapeta and other semi urban areas.

Officials and staff of local bodies seemed to have felt that it was enough if they were present at the programmes being conducted by the NGOs to educate the people against the use of plastic products. Recently Kalinga Youth association distributed jute bags on a massive scale in Srikakulam city as part of the move to discourage people from using plastic products.

When asked, Srikakulam Municipal Commissioner, M Geetha Devi explained that the officials were making all efforts to prevent use of plastic products. The officials were educating the shopkeepers not to use to plastic carry bags.