The Hindu 21.11.2014
MCC premises to be plastic-free zone
Concept will be extended to all nine zonal offices: Betsurmath
The tourist city is going all out to emerge as a plastic-free destination. After the authorities declared places of tourist interest like the Chamundi Hills, palace and zoo as a plastic-free zone, the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) has banned the use of plastic on its premises with effect from Thursday.
Consequently, there will be no use of plastic sheets or stationery wrapped in plastic, plastic files, bags, water bottles or drinking cups. Those entering the premises will have to deposit any plastic material in a special bin provided for the purpose.
MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath said the concept of plastic-free zones will be extended to all nine zonal offices.
Mayor R. Lingappa, elected councillors and staff took an oath to desist from using plastic as it was harmful to the environment.
The authorities said they were systematically enforcing the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 related to authorisation, manufacturing, recycling and disposal of plastic and creating public awareness in this regard.
Frequent raids have been conducted in the city by the MCC to discourage manufacturers and sellers from seizing plastic bags below 40 microns.
Social activist Vasanthkumar Mysoremath said it was easier to declare an office premise as plastic-free. But the need of the hour was to reduce the use of plastic in the entire city.
He said the city should be declared plastic-free given the environmental hazards of the material. In Mysuru, there are scores of departmental stores and thousands of people who use plastic bags daily. “The MCC has no idea where all these plastic goes and hence the authorities should target high-end departmental stores, which is patronised by a large number of people,: he said. While the authorities have been successful in minimising plastic menace at the zoo and palace, it has been the same at Chamundi Hills.
