Corpn to constitute special teams to check banned plastics entering city

The decision was taken after the repeated seizures of banned plastic items from vehicles entering the city Corporation borders from other States and districts.

“The special teams would comprise of officials from Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, police, Commercial Tax departments and other authorities. The teams will check the vehicles entering the city with banned items at borders,” said Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash.

Meanwhile, a source in the civic body confirmed the smuggling of plastic items into the city from other states where the production of plastic items is yet to be banned.

Prakash added that the civic body would send the draft bylaw, which proposes to penalise plastic users, to the State government in a couple of days. The penalty would be levied from violators once the government approves the draft bylaws, the Commissioner added.

Apart from intensifying raids, forming special teams to crack down on smuggling and levying penalty, the civic body also has plans to conduct awareness programmes to sensitise the public. “The government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to the Chennai Corporation to conduct exhibition of alternative products to plastic items. We will invite shop owners, hotel owners and others who use these plastics, so that they can get information regarding the alternatives,” Prakash said.

The State government had already sanctioned funds to districts, and exhibitions were conducted in 15 places so far.

The State government had banned the manufacture and use of single use plastic items, irrespective of their micron level, from January 1. Since then, the civic officials have seized more than 220 tonnes of banned items from the first day of the ban.