Koyambedu traders say goodbye to plastic bags

CHENNAI: Traders at Chennai’s Koyambedu wholesale fruit and vegetable market, which is one of Asia's largest such facilities, have decided to stop using disposable plastic bags from today (October 2).

Tamil Nadu principal secretary, environment and forests

Supriya Sahu

tweeted this information after a meeting with the traders. Sahu is also the chairman of TN Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).



Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) commissioner

Gagandeep Singh Bedi

was present at the meeting. The

GCC

is the government authority which enforces the plastic ban in the city.

Bedi told TOI that they had exhorted the traders to use only paper and jute bags. A series of meetings was conducted with traders and plastic bag manufacturers on this. An NGO provided the cloth bags for the meeting on Saturday.

"Zonal teams of the GCC will be enforcing the plastic ban. We will initially be using persuasion instead of fines," Bedi said.