Plastic Bags Of 40 Microns Allowed

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, under pressure from the manufacturers of plastic bags, and employees of the latter, on Tuesday cast aside its stated noble intentions of cleansing the city environs, by agreeing to allow the production and sale of plastic carry bags of upto 40 microns.

Addressing a packed media conference, GHMC Commissioner M T Krishna Babu, flanked by Mayor Banda Karthika Reddy and Deputy Mayor Jaffer Hussain, said that the manufacturing units will be allowed to produce and sell plastic bags of upto 40 microns till a government notification is issued.

However, Krishna Babu announced that severe penalties would be imposed on the manufacturing units if they are found to be violating the rule and producing bags of less than 40 microns.

"The first offense would invite a penalty of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000, while any subsequent violation would mean that the unit's license would be cancelled and the unit sealed," Krishna Babu said.

The penalties would not be limited to the manufacturers alone.

Traders packing their wares in plastic bags of less than 40 microns would be also liable for punishment.

"A first offense would invite penalties of Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000. Any other violation would mean the shop's trade license being cancelled under the Labour Act," the GHMC Commissioner said.

Besides this, citizens using such carry bags would also invite penalties, ranging from Rs. 250 to Rs. 500.

The GHMC would give the responsibility to impose the ban on plastics to each Deputy Municipal Commissioner, who would function as the Chief Enforcement Officer in each Circle.

Apart from this, the GHMC, which had launched the special awareness drive during the entire month of June, will continue it in the next month.

The awareness drive for the prevention of plastic carry bag usage was conducted through cinema slides, hoardings and bulk sms, among other media.

Meetings were also conducted with various trade associations, plastic manufacturers associations, NGOs, hoteliers, residents, welfare associations and self-help groups to create awareness and seek cooperation.

Earlier, various trade associations and plastic manufacture associations requested the GHMC to restrict the ban of plastic bags to upto 40 microns as per the Central government's notification. (INN)