Mayor, civic group leaders to discuss plastic bag ban

Civic group leaders will, on Saturday, discuss a proposal to impose a total ban on plastic carry bags.

Civic group leaders will, on Saturday, discuss a proposal to impose a total ban on plastic carry bags. Mayor Shraddha Jadhav said, on Friday, that she had written to Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya that she would be initiating a discussion on the topic on Saturday.

HT Image

The Hindustan Times had reported on December 27 that the move to impose a complete ban on plastic carry bags would be initiated soon.

Kshatriya said, “I had a discussion with Mayor about the ban on plastic carry bags and the issue will be discussed in the group leader meeting.”

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has already banned the sale and use of plastic carry bags thinner than 50 microns. The ban was imposed after the BMC found that these carry bags were a major reason for the choking of drains in the city during the 26/7 deluge.

Jadhav has also written to the municipal commissioner saying that the administration should initiate an awareness campaign about using cloth bags.

The mayor has planned to launch a campaign with National Service Scheme (NSS) students of Kirti College, Dadar (West) on Saturday.

“We will distribute about 10,000 cloth and paper bags in Dadar and appeal to people not to use plastic carry bags,” said Prof. Ratna Savardekar, NSS unit chief, Kirti College.

The state environment department has offered to support the civic body's move.

The Opposition has also agreed to support the move. “If the mayor is serious and intends to implement the ban strictly, then we will support the ban,” said Rajhans Singh, leader of the opposition in the BMC.

“But if ruling party could not implement the 50-micron rule, then they should either suspend the concerned civic officials or the mayor should resign.”