Plastic-free drive gets government push in Nilgiris

CHENNAI: The war against plastic seems to have resumed in the

Nilgiris

. The district administration’s anti-plastic drive has gained momentum with collector J Innocent Divya ordering stern enforcement of existing rules to keep the ecologically sensitive hill district free of plastic. For starters, the

district administration

has completely banned the use of plastic bags and covers in the district and is mobilising locals for cleanliness drives. It was last in 2002 when the district administration had launched a similar campaign that banned the use of disposable plastic items. As the campaign fizzled out, the following decade saw a noticeable rise in the entry of plastic carry bags, cups and plates into the market.

"As the Nilgiris has a fragile eco-system, clear guidelines to ban plastics in the region have already been brought in place," says Divya.

The district administration has geared up to enforce these guidelines in letter and spirit — although with a few additional rules. A thorough anti-plastic drive has been conducted in the hill district in the past month. All the eight check posts of the district are currently being manned by members of self-help groups (SHGs) to check tourist and local vehicles for plastic carry bags, cups and plates. Around 24 officials from various departments including revenue, tourism, forest and the municipality have been entrusted with conducting surprise checks and seize banned plastic items from shops.

Nilgiris collector Divya recently convened an anti-plastic drive meeting comprising department officials and NGOs. The collector ordered a complete ban on plastic bags in the Nilgiris irrespective of the microns. Retail shops and wholesale dealers were asked not to use plastic covers.

As part of the drive, "no-plastic" signboards will be erected near all check posts to sensitise tourists. It was also decided in the meeting that retailers possessing plastic carry bags will be fined `1,000 per half a kg of plastic while wholesalers will be imposed `5,000 fine for the same. Kalyana mandapams possessing plastic carry bags, tumblers and covers will be slapped a fine of `20,000 per half a kg of plastic. A fine of `250, `100, and `50 will be levied on buses, tempos and light vehicles that enter the Nilgiris with plastic bags and plates.

Plastic has also been banned on the premises of the Government Botanical Garden and the

Ooty

Lake. To prevent tourists from littering tourist spots, around 12 members from SHGs have been assigned to collect plastic items like packets of chips and biscuits from tourists at entry points of tourist spots and issue tokens for the same. Tourist can collect their packets while returning.

Divya, however, said it is beyond the district administration’s power to restrict the reach or sale of branded items that come with plastic packaging in the district. "It falls upon the public to segregate them while disposing their garbage," she said.

Locals and shopkeepers, say the approach of the campaign should be practical and efforts should be made by the administration to find suitable alternatives.

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