Udupi CMC to ban all plastic bags from Sep 15

Udupi: The Udupi City Municipal Council has resolved to impose a ban on use of all kinds of plastic bags in its limits from September 15.

Presiding over the general body meeting of the CMC here on Tuesday, CMC President Kiran Kumar pressed for the ban saying CMC has every right to impose the ban as the similar ban had already been implemented in cities like Mysore, Ooty which had higher rate of tourist turn out. ``We too have Srikrishna Temple, Ashta Mutts and beaches spread along the district coast. As the tourist turnout in to the city was more, it was inevitable to ban the use of plastic to give a clean image of the city to the visitors'', he said.

Councilors Shyamprasad Kudwa, Dr MR Pai advised the President to see the pros and cons, including its legal provisions, prior to imposing a ban. ``Prior to imposing a ban we shall penalize the Kalyana Mantap owners for using plastic sheets for covering dining tables'', Kudwa said. Councilor Jayananda informed that the proposal to impose a total ban on use of plastic carry bags would badly affect the fisher women and their customers, as there is no alternative to carry fish from the markets.

Finally it was resolved to impose the ban as most of the members supported a ban on a trial basis.

Councilor Mohan Upadhya wanted to know whether the CMC was collecting any tax from the traders inside Malpe port, as they provide many facilities.

President informed that so far they did not collect as the traders neither had door number nor trade license. ``We have detailed information about the trade and trade owners functioning from the port. In the first phase with a resolution at this meeting we shall issue door numbers, under the port authority and then the trade license and start collect the tax. In that case we can provide them better facilities too'', he added.

Councilor Panduranga Malpe informed the meeting of the artificial flood created in the port area, as two huge pipes drawing water to the Ice Plant, had been laid in the storm water drain. President advised to lay the under ground pipeline instead of taking them through the storm water drain.

Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat also participated in the meeting and assured councilor Indira Shekhar of taking up taking up the widening of Kalmadi-Malpe road, from the Nagarothana Nidhi soon.