Enforcement of Plastic ban begins in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Edappadi Palanisamy, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu announced plastic ban scheme in the state Assembly that came into effect in Tamil Nadu from January 1, 2019. The ban was announced on World Environment Day, in a bid to make it a mission to save the environment in Year 2019.

All the corporations in the state encouraged people to use alternatives to single-use plastic items in their daily life.

A total of 14 things made from plastic and thermocol, including carry bags are included in this ban. The list of banned items include plastic sheet used for food wrapping, plastic thermocol plates, plastic coated paper plates, plastic coated paper cups, tea cups, plastic tumbler, thermocol cups, plastic carry bags of all sizes, non-woven bags, water pouches, plastic straw, plastic flags etc.

As the ban comes into effect residents were asked to carry their own cloth/jute bags or baskets for shopping and not to throw banned plastic items in the bin rather hand them over to nearest local body ward officers for its safe recycling.

The State government is all set to seal, seize and stop those who don’t follow the rule. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has issued notice to 1400 units and asked them not to manufacture banned plastic item. The TNPCB also organized a district level conference on theme “Plastic Free Tamil Nadu” on December 31, and urged the people to use alternative plastic items.

The state government has asked local bodies to seize banned goods and send them to cement kilns for co-processing.

Besides the ban on various plastic items, Corporation officials including the Swachh police created awareness about the fact that polypropylene bags and aluminium foils should also not be used.

An awareness rally was flagged off by Alby John Varghese, Commissioner, Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation, was held from the Cruz Fernandes statue to the Corporation office.

Boxes were put up at places, including the old bus stand,where people could deposit polythene bags in return for cloth bags, which was welcomed by the public.

A campaign called #CarryYourOwnBagsChallenge is started on twitter and people are encouraged to take photo of paper/cloth bags used by them instead of plastic bags and post them on social media platform and share it with their friends also for spreading awareness about the campaign.  

In Tirunelveli the corporation officials conducted inspections at textile shops and sized around 300kg of banned plastic item.

K. Veera Raghava Rao, Collector, Ramanathapuram had formed 37 teams of officials from local bodies, food safety departments, etc. to monitor plastic ban in the corporation limits. He also directed the teams to encourage and educate people regarding the harmful effects of single use plastic.

The Coimbatore corporation has asked traders and institutions to hand over stocks of banned plastic items to the nearest corporation office. The corporation also laid down rule for the violation of ban, a fine of Rs 10,000 for stockists and traders, Rs 5,000, for retail merchants, Rs 2,000 for road side vendors, and for the general public a fine of Rs 1,000 will be imposed.