Month-long awareness campaign against plastic use begins

Month-long awareness campaign against plastic use begins

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov. 1, 2012: A massive awareness rally marked the beginning of a month-long awareness campaign on the adverse effects of plastic use, which was officially inaugurated on the occasion of Karnataka Rajyothsava.

Thousands of students from medical, nursing, engineering, and paramedical colleges,  NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, Scouts and Guides, and others took part in this rally, which began at Scouts and Guides Bhavan near Mangala Stadium and ended at Nehru Maidan.

 

 

 

District-in-charge Minister C. T. Ravi officially imposed the ban on plastic use after flagging off the rally, which began at 7:30 a.m. 

A few weeks back, the district-in-charge minister had directed DC Dr. N. S. Channappa Gowda to impose a ban on plastic use in the district, and accordingly, the DC issued a circular. The ban will be in force from Nov 1, Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC announced that the public will be given 15 days to educate themselves against plastic use. A vehicle with two Home Guards will be used to impose the ban and people will be educated against the use of plastic in the first 15 days. After this 15-day period, penalties ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 will be slapped on those who violate the ban order.

The DC also announced a meeting of shop owners and traders, during which they will be urged to cooperate with the ban. They will be advised to use plastic alternatives such as terry cotton, paper bags, cotton bags, and bags made of biodegradable material. The district administration will also distribute around 6000 environment friendly bags among petty shop owners and traders, he added.

Earlier, Dr. Harish Kumar, commissioner of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), had announced that action will be taken against anybody caught dumping plastic waste on the roadside, with effect from Dec 1.

Stating that the district administration has imposed a ban on plastic use with effect from Nov 1, he said that the MCC will spend one month in creating public awareness.

He announced that the MCC will collect plastic waste from houses and take it to Pachanady, where it will be used in the manufacture of oil.