Siliguri Municipal Corporation seizes 400 kg plastic bags

Kolkata: Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Sunday seized 400 kg plastic bags from a godown. The godown has been sealed and a massive hunt is on nab to the owners.

Acting on a tip off, senior officials of the SMC raided the godown situated in the area under the jurisdiction of ward 8. Senior officials said some unscrupulous traders used to push the bags in the market. Plastic bags have been banned in the areas under SMC.

Any person found to be carrying plastic bag is fined. The opposition leaders put pressure on the SMC authorities to unearth the source from where the bags were being supplied to the market. For the past few months, the civic officials waited but could not spot the godown. The bags were kept in huge racks. It was learnt that the bags were meant for the rural areas where they are in great demand. Senior civic officials said the plastic bags are a potential threat to the underground pipeline not only in Siliguri but also throughout the country. Plastic bags clog the underground sewer lines causing massive waterlogging during the monsoons. The civic authorities have over and again requested the customers not to take plastic bags. But they have no other choice because most of the shopkeepers still use plastic bags to wrap various items like fish, meat , vegetables and fruits. The SMC has decided a move to use paper bags in the markets.