Thiruvananthapuram takes sore plastic head on

Thiruvananthapuram: The city started its campaign against the use of plastic carry bags of less than 50 microns. Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Issac inaugurated the drive at St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School on Friday. The efforts to ensure effective waste management should be as intensive as the efforts undertaken during the literacy drive, he said. He added that awareness should start from the school level, and the message of waste management should be sent through children.

The Corporation is planning to start an anti-plastic drive through schools. Officials say that children will be given a questionnaire seeking information on details like the amount of plastic from each household. The Minister also flagged off an awareness vehicle which would propagate the civic body’s decision to ban thin plastic covers and various disposable items. Health Standing Committee Chairperson K Sreekumar says that such vehicles would be touring the main centres of the city like Palayam, Vazhuthacaud, East Fort, Chalai and Kesavadasapuram.

In addition, the civic body met with various stakeholders including traders and merchants. Until July 15, squads led by health inspectors will be visiting shops to spread awareness. Plastic carry bag distributors are expected to purchase hologram stickers at the rate of Rs 3 from the Corporation and put it on each carry bag. Should the health squad find later that the bag was less than 50 micron thick, the respective distributor will be booked. Penalties have not been decided.

Micrometers which are already available at the health circles will be used by the squad to check the thickness. In addition, the Corporation plans to procure digital micrometers. Mayor V K Prasanth presided. Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar and chairs of various standing committees were present.