Tagore Garden fruit market is SDMC's 1st plastic-free market

New Delhi: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Monday declared the Tagore Garden fruit and vegetable market as the first plastic-free market in the West Zone of the region. Similarly, the SDMC also identified five markets in each of the zones, which will be awarded the plastic-free status, keeping in line with promoting the Prime Minister's call to eliminate the usage of single-use plastic.

SDMC Mayor, Sunita Kangra said that SDMC is setting an example by achieving plastic-free status in fruit and vegetable markets, which are turning towards eco-friendly alternatives instead. The Standing Committee Chairman also appreciated the efforts of officials of the market associations, who have time and again shown their commitment to using eco-friendly methods. He urged more shopkeepers to put up a board at their shops, appealing customers to bring jute or cloth bags to carry their shopping.

The SDMC's drive towards ending use of plastic starts from the grassroots level, according to officials of the municipality. They added that their municipality wanted to challenge the idea that small markets will not be able to make the switch to eco-friendly measures, adding that slowly the change can be seen at the ground level.