Khammam embarks on making district plastic free by Jan 2020

Khammam: District administration has embarked on an ambitious campaigning on a mission-mode to end the menace of plastic in towns and villages. A special Action Plan has been prepared outlining actions needed to make Khammam city 'plastic-free' by January 26, 2020, along with other towns.

"Businessmen, common public, traders, manufacturers, government departments, educational institutions and other users of plastic will be involved in the execution of this time bound plan to reach the set goal in time and effectively," District Collector RV Karnan said.

The implementation strategy would be holding regular meetings creating awareness among the stakeholders. How society reacts to the risk and dangers posed by plastic is significant for the success of the campaigning, he said.

Campaigns on important occasions like Gandhi Jayanti, Dasara, Deepavali and New Year Day celebrations will be conducted to create a special impact on the public to end the use of plastic, specifically single use plastic.

"It takes one to two hundred years for a polythene bag to deteriorate and plastic bottle needs even more, it takes nearly 400 years to decay. There are many alternates to plastic individuals have to start using them. Now as it is the right time to act," Karnan said.

It has been an established fact that excessive use of plastic causes cancer. Livestock has been the victim of plastic as they die when consumed leftover food contained in plastic bags. An awareness meeting with stakeholders has already been conducted in Khammam recently.

The traders and shop owners are asked to display boards telling people that they do not sell or provide polythene bags. It helps to create a habit of carrying cloth bags when going to shops, he added. In similar manner, it is also planned to make Wyra, Madhira and Sathupalli Municipalities plastic-free places.

The Municipal Commissioners are already directed to prepare an action plan for educating the people and for an effective plastic waste management, he said.