Navi Mumbai civic body promotes cloth bags to curb plastic

MUMBAI: In an effort to replace plastic bags with cloth bags, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) began various initiatives across the city to sensitise people against using plastic daily. Ward-wise drives are conducted to distribute cloth bags in public places such as markets.

Sujata Dhole, Additional Commissioner, NMMC, said that the idea is to just educate people about the hazards of plastic. “It is a long way which requires consistency and continuity. A massive public awareness is needed to sensitise people against the use of single-use plastic,” she added. Officials of the local body regularly visit places like schools, housing societies, gardens, offices, etc., and make them take a pledge to ditch plastics for environment.

Around 1000 cloth bags were distributed among people and regular checks are conducted at shops to curb the use of single-use plastic bags. Shopkeepers are fined Rs 5000, in case the bags are found.