Barrackpore municipality bans plastic, thermocol

Kolkata: To check the environmental pollution in its jurisdiction, the Barrackpore municipality has banned the use of plastic and thermocol.

The new rule will be implemented from the next week.

The municipal chairman Uttam Das said that none of the shopkeepers under its jurisdiction will be allowed to sell any items in plastic bags or polythene. They will also not be allowed to use thermocol for any cause. Even in the ceremonial houses, the plastic or thermocol plates and cups will not be used. The municipality will conduct campaigns in its area from next week to make people aware about the banning of plastic materials.

Das said that if any shopkeeper is found to be flouting the norms he or she will be slapped a spot fine of Rs 500. The municipality will distribute 10,000 jute bags to various markets.

He also said that Barrackpore would be transformed into a nature-friendly place. The rule will be enforced with strict hands, Das maintained.

He also urged the other municipalities to adopt the policy to protect the environment from plastic. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation had carried out campaigns against the use of plastic materials. It can also be mentioned here that the West Bengal Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 had recently been passed in the Assembly prohibiting the throwing of plastic of prescribed size and thickness in the drains as it is often found that plastic substances block the drainage system at various municipal areas.

The use of plastic materials has been a major problem in the KMC area as well. The gully pits and high drains are often chocked by the plastic materials leading to the accumulation of water on the streets. It takes a long time to recede as the gully pits remain chocked.