Mohali MC to target polybag suppliers

MOHALI: The Mohali Municipal Corporation (MMC) had started its drive against the use of polythene bags in August this year, but it was unable to able to track roadside vendors. Now, it has decided to target the main suppliers for a complete ban on polythene bags.Since the beginning of the ban on polythene bags in town, the MC has issued 200 notices, while seizing such bags of over 4.10 quintals. Now, it is looking at tracking the main suppliers providing polythene bags to roadside vendors and other shopkeepers in town, so that its use could be completely blocked. The ban was imposed on polythene bags having a thickness below 40 microns as per the guidelines laid down by the Punjab Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture, Usage and Disposal) Control Act, 2005. The resolution to pull up the suppliers or dealers of polythene bags in the market was taken during a meeting headed by MC joint commissioner Nayan Bhullar.During a discussion among MC employees, it was found that it is almost impossible to track street vendors, as they keep moving. While challans were issued to them, they move out and never return to the same place again. Moreover, issuing challans to street vendors was not fruitful for MC, as it was only filling up their challan books, but at the same time, there was no stopping the supply of polybags. During a survey conducted by MMC on the use of such bags, it was found that over 2.50 quintals of sub-standard quality bags were used on a daily basis, and the maximum use was found in vegetable markets.MMC has now decided to target the 'mandis' to cut loose the connection of supply of polythene bags. MMC commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta said: "In the past week, we have issued a notice to three chemist shops and one supplier of confectionary products in Phase 3B2. Polybags weighing 25kg were seized from these shops. We continue to send notices to those using polybags, and 25 people have already been sent notices in this regard. Some violators had come to the MMC office and given us a written undertaking that they would not use polythene bags in the future. Nineteen violators using polythene bags were shown the door of a local court for completing the legal formalities, while six were imposed a fine of Rs2,000 each."