GHMC braces for plastic ban

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has written to the State government seeking permission to form a city-level task force to implement the plastic ban. The GHMC Commissioner will be its chairperson and the task force will comprise GHMC’s Directorate of Enforcement Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) officials. GHMC Zonal Commissioners, Additional Commissioners, officials […]

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has written to the State government seeking permission to form a city-level task force to implement the plastic ban.

The GHMC Commissioner will be its chairperson and the task force will comprise GHMC’s Directorate of Enforcement Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) officials. GHMC Zonal Commissioners, Additional Commissioners, officials from Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), Telangana State Pollution Control Board, District Collectorates and other departments will also be part of it.

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Formation of this exclusive force was proposed following the order issued by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department in sync with the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021.

According to the draft rules, the use of carrying bags and single-use plastics (SUPs) below 75 microns thickness should be banned. Besides, this use of carrying bags and SUPs below 120 microns thickness should be banned from July 1, 2022. Currently, in GHMC limits there is a ban on plastic bags of less than 50 microns thickness.

Meanwhile, based on the MAUD order, a series of activities have been planned. The major environmental conservation method includes replacing plastics with eco-sustainable materials. As a part of the exercise, the civic body decided to facilitate SHGs to get financial support through banks and encourage them to make cloth and jute bags.

Apart from this, to create marketing opportunities for women, GHMC has decided to provide free space at exhibitions conducted by the government and private organisations for SHGs who prepare environmentally sustainable products that can be replaced with plastics. As per the action plan being tabled to implement the MAUD order, enforcement activities will also be taken up.

Plastic manufacturers, mall owners and other commercial establishments will be instructed to use alternatives to single-use plastic. Apart from enforcement activities, awareness campaigns are also planned. Discouraging people from using plastics by sensitising them, spreading awareness about the alternative cost-effective substances that can be used are some of the programmes that will be taken up. As part of the initiative, the GHMC’s Assistant Medical Officers of Health (AOMH) will visit the meat shops and request people to bring tiffin boxes to curb the use of plastics.

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