Tirupati bids good bye to plastic from Oct 2

Tirupati: The Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) is getting ready to promote alternatives to plastic in the temple city ahead of the ban to be imposed on its use from October 2.

The authorities want to ban the sale of plastic bags and other articles under the provisions of existing legislations. There are about 43 wholesale and retail vendors of plastic bags, glasses, plates, spoons so on in Tirupati.  

A couple of days ago, municipal officials, after a review of the situation, waned the vendors against selling of the plastic items in future as the MCT will impose a ban from October 2. The officials are going to spell out punishments and penalties on plastic use and sale.  

They are also planning to organise camps on plastic ban in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry from the August first week. In this stage, the main aim is to educate all the municipal and private school children on the effects of plastic on environment.    

For this also officials have prepared a blue print, which seeks to involve students and teachers. Then the officials want to go ahead with the implementation of ban on use of plastic in shops, hotels, super markets, chicken shop owners, fast food center proprietors, fruit market vendors and so on.

Meanwhile, municipal authorities summoned leader of women self-help group Nuthan and inquired if they could make cloth bags to replace the plastic bags.  She had shown some samples of different sizes and said that if the municipal corporation provides an opportunity, they will make as many bags as required.

According to sources, more than five lakh cloth bags are needed immediately in Tirupati. If people come forward to use cloth bags, the SHGs will make more number of bags.  

Tirupati Municipal Corporation secretary S Manohar told The Hans India that officials are involving all the stake holders in promoting social awareness on going in for alternatives to plastic. "From October 2, the MCT will enforce ban on use of plastic, come what may" he said.