KOCHI: All supermarkets and hypermarkets in the city will have to replace plastic carry bags with cloth or paper bags before Onam.
Notice in this regard will be issued to them by the city corporation soon.
During a meeting of health wing officials convened by mayor Soumini Jain on Wednesday, health inspectors have been asked to take immediate steps to strictly enforce the ban on plastic carry bags before Onam, without fail.
“The civic administration has already intensified raids on wholesale traders and retailers of plastic packaging materials,” Ms Jain told DC. “More than 1.5 tonnes of banned thin plastic materials have been seized. Now, the focus will be on supermarkets and hypermarkets where huge quantities of plastic bags are being given away. The owners have to replace them with eco-friendly packaging materials.”
The mayor said non-cooperation of the traders and lackadaisical attitude of the civic officials delayed the ban on plastic carry bags.
“Enforcement of the ban can’t be delayed further as the city is facing the consequences of huge quantities of plastic waste generated every day,” she said.
Meanwhile, the corporation is giving support to Kudumbashree units to set up cloth and paper bag units in all divisions. “Rs 10 lakh will be provided to Kudumbashree groups to set up paper bag units. Any unit can submit a project of paper bag manufacturing unit to the corporation,” she said.
