Mangalore, November 1: The month-long awareness campaign against the use of plastic in Mangalore was formally launched on Thursday, the Day of Karnataka Rajyotsava, with thousands of students taking out a massive awareness rally in the city.
Students from various prestigious institutions including medical, paramedical, nursing and engineering colleges, Scouts and guides, NCC and NSS volunteers participated in the walkathon from Scouts and Guides Bhavan, near Mangala stadium to Nehru Maidan.
The event was organised by Dakshina Kannada district administration.
The rally proceeded via Lalbagh, Ballabagh, PVS Circle, Navbharath, KSR, City Center, Hampanakatta and University College before culminating in Nehru Maidan.
Ban officially imposed
District in-charge minister CT Ravi officially imposed the ban on plastic bags, cups and plastic sheets etc. in taluk by inaugurating an awareness rally which will commence from at 7:30 a.m.
Ravi had directed Deputy Commissioner NS Channappa Gowda a few weeks ago to impose the plastic ban in Dakshina Kannada district. Accordingly, DC has issued a circular in this regard and the ban will be in force in the district from Thursday.
Mr Gowda said that 15 days will be given for people to educate themselves against the use of plastic. "A vehicle with two home guards will be deployed to impose the ban. People will be educated against the use of plastic in the initial 15 days. However, later a penalty ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 will be levied from those who violate the order," he said.
"A meeting of shops and establishment owners will be convened to seek their cooperation for the ban. They will be insisted to use alternative bags made of paper, cotton, terry cotton and other biodegradable materials instead of plastic. District administration has already ordered 6,000 bags made of terry cotton material and it will be distributed among petty shop owners and traders to create awareness among them," the DC said.
Action from December 1
Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr Harish Kumar earlier said that if anyone found throwing plastics beside the road, then action will be initiated against them from December 1.
He said the district administration has imposed ban the use of plastics in Mangalore taluk from Thursday. The MCC will take one month time to create awareness among the public.
However, the MCC will abide by the decision of the district administration, in its decision on ban on plastics.
“The segregated plastics will be collected from the houses and will be taken to Pacchanady dumpyard. The dump-yard will have a plastic unit, wherein plastic will be used for manufacturing oil,” he said.
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