From Jan 1: shop owners to pay fine for using plastic bag

Shop owners who fail to stop using plastic bags after December 31 will have to face penalty.

Shop owners who fail to stop using plastic bags after December 31 will have to face penalty.

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"We will start imposing fine, if business establishments and malls do not relinquish the use of polythene bags and turn to environment-friendly biodegradable options by December 31," Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) commissioner Vijay Singh Dahiya said on Wednesday.

The MCG commissioner on Wednesday declared the Ambience Mall 'polythene bags free'. With an average footfall of one lakh visitors on weekends, the Ambience Mall has become the first mall of the city to shun the use of polythene.

The MCG has identified at least 62 big shopping establishments and malls across the city and gave them the deadline of December 31 to declare themselves polythene-free.

"We will create more awareness among visitors by promoting and publicising our 'no-polythene' status," said Vijay Aima, vice-president, Ambience Mall.

Other mall managements are also joining the climate conservation campaign launched by the MCG.

"We have already enforced it in our malls in Gurgaon," claimed Arvind Sikri, head at MGF Mall.

After December 31, MCG will focus on making big markets like Sadar Bazar polythene-free. The corporation will rope in RWAs and school students to carry out our campaign against the use of plastic," Dahiya said.