Hubballi: It has been more than a month since the central government banned the sale of single-use plastic, but this hazardous substance continues to be sold rampantly across Hubballi-Dharwad to the dismay of the authorities. In July alone, the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) carried out 103 raids, seizing nearly 528 tonnes of single-use plastic, and collected Rs 4,47,500 in fines from establishments caught selling this substance.
Meanwhile, HDMC has been unrelenting in raising awareness among the public about the irreversible damage that sale and utilisation of single-use plastic can do to the environment. Among others, sale of single-use plastic continues unchecked at groceries, liquor outlets, vegetable and fruit vendors, among others.
Notwithstanding the punishment and fines that sale and use of the substance can attract, many businesses, mostly small-scale enterprises, seem to think that single-use plastic is indispensable, not to mention fears of shrinking profits. Navanagar resident, Basavaraj Jamboti confirmed to TOI that HDMC officials were regularly raiding a wide variety of business establishments, ranging from garment stores, bakeries to groceries and vegetable outlets. “But much more needs to be done to ensure that this ban on single-use plastic is most effectively implemented,” said Jamboti, highlighting the need for raising awareness among the public about the ill-effects of continued use of the substance.
HDMC environmental engineer, Mallikarjun BM said, “Our officials are conducting raids on many small establishments, and we are working tirelessly to dissuade people from turning to single-use plastic. We are also levying fines. Warehouses where single-house plastic is stores have also been raided. Acting on a tip-off, we raided a warehouse on Karwar Road, seizing six tonnes of banned plastic. Meanwhile, we are continuing to create awareness among the public.”
FacebookTwitterInstagramKOO APPYOUTUBE