MCG to now target plastic suppliers

Gurugram: Having not achieved the success of banning plastic, the MCG is planning to target the suppliers. The change in action comes after the review meet highlighted how the use of plastic has not come down in the city. Recently, a report from a waste collecting agency contracted by the MCG claimed that of the 930 metric tonnes waste produced in the city daily, only 20 tonnes is that of plastic. This claim was fully rejected by the environmentalists.

In coordination with the district courts, the Gurugram administration has started work towards making Gurgram a plastic-free city. In July, the sessions court got involved in the environment-friendly process and committed to making Sector-14 and Sector 15 a plastic-free zone. The MCG also has formed a special team to restrict the usage of plastic and is fining the shopkeepers who are using the plastics.

The Municipal body has formally decided to make Sadar Bazaar the plastic-free zone. Being the oldest market in the city, a lot of market owners are using polythene. There is also a large wholesale vegetable market (mandi) where polythene is preferred not only by the vendors but thousands of buyers who visit the area.

To deal with the task, the MCG first intends to hold various sessions explaining the shopkeepers and even the buyers of the detrimental consequences of using the plastic following which it plans to take action. "It is okay to levy fine on the hardworking shopkeepers but does the public agency have enough options and solutions. They should first create a mechanism where there are alternatives for plastic. As of now, they are just levying fines," said Om Prakash, one of the shop owners of the city.