Kamrup (M) District Administration to charge fine on using and selling plastic bags

The Deputy Commissioner (DDMA) Kamrup (M), IAS Biswajit Pegu said the penalty for the same would be imposed Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Act 1969.

DC Biswajit Pegu said in the notice that, where it is seen that the use of plastic bags has become a part of modern life. But the convenience of plastic shopping bags comes with a very high cost to the environment as well as it negatively affects human health.

The notice stated that the shops and establishments, as well as consumers, are using and selling carry bags as they are still trading into various products, cooked and precooked items, vegetables, meat, and other consumer goods, and the bags they are using are made of virgin or recycled plastic which is less than 40 microns of thickness, and as per the plastic waste management and handling rules 2011that are not recommended.

Apart from that, dumping/throwing of plastic bags in primary and secondary drains leads to congestion of drains resulting in water logging in and around the city during the rainy season.

It has been observed that the general public, as well as the shops and establishments are still indulging in using selling carry bags and throwing and dumping wastes in the open roads drains and Street despite they are under an obligation to ensure that they shall not do the same.

"If the waste disposal in drains and roads is not prevented, there are immense possibilities of inducing disaster like urban flooding, which causes a lot of inconvenience to residents and communications along with the movement of traffic and city cleanliness" stated in the notice issued by the government.

Therefore, in view of the above DC, Biswajit Pegu direct the Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to ensure that the strict action to the extent of imposing fine against anybody whether public or commercial establishment ora person for using/selling of plastic shopping bags below the recommended standard and dumping of garbage/waste in the natural drains and contamination of the water of the drains as per the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Act 1969.

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