CUTTACK: Cuttack city’s struggle to get rid of polythene menace will from Sunday acquire a new dimension with the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) setting out on an all out drive to enforce the ban on the substances.Starting from the World Environment Day on June 5, the municipal body would launch a crackdown on polythene use. Every shop, establishment and gatherings where polythene is used rampantly would be raided and the materials seized.Two squads have been formed with 15-20 members each to carry out the raids from June 5-18 in the first phase. The focus would be on the shops and establishments where polythene use is rampant like the vegetables and fruits markets, hotels and restaurants, functions and gatherings. While seizing the banned polythene, the teams would suggest alternatives like paper, cloth or jute bags as well as linking them to the suppliers of the products.Commissioner, CMC RN Nanda today also issued stern warnings against use of polythene and plastics in the functions and community gatherings in the city.“The Kalyan Mandaps while issuing of licenses have been instructed to not allow use of polythene and hazardous plastic materials during parties and functions on their premises. But none have bothered to adhere to it as we see every wedding, every feast leaving behind a huge volume of plastic and polythene waste. We would be launching surprise raids on them right during the feasts and ceremonies and seize the materials to teach violators a lesson”, Nanda said.The CMC, though, is hamstrung by lack of powers to book or penalise violators.The CMC Council has amended the bye laws of the municipal body to include environment protection rules and regulations. The Government approval to the incorporated penal provisions is expected soon. “But even though we cannot book or impose fines, we are under our rights to seize banned articles and items that we deem hazardous to the civic conditions of the city”, Nanda said.The CMC, in fact, had launched a drive against polythene use since 2009 to generate awareness among the people as well as sellers, shop and commercial establishments.But the outcome has not been very encouraging as polythene is widely used.
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