Steps to implement plastic ban in Bhagalpur

BHAGALPUR: Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated several measures to ensure proper implementation of plastic ban in the town from December 14.
Councillors of all 51 wards in the town have been assigned roles to enforce plastic ban in the urban areas. Besides imposing penalty, the civic body will also take legal action against those using plastic carry bags in the town.
The business establishments found storing or selling plastic bags will also be heavily penalized by the BMC after the enforcement of Bihar Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2018.
A meeting of the empowered standing committee of BMC was held recently to ratify the adoption of the rules.
While taking suo motu cognizance of news reports related to pollution in a pond at Gaya, the Patna high court had asked the state government in June this year to ban use of plastic bags across the state and make provisions to penalise the violators.
Accordingly, the state government enacted Bihar Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2018, prohibiting manufacture, import, storage, sale and use of plastic bags.
The BMC has decided to ban all kinds of plastic in the urban areas that has nearly 64,200 households and a population of more than 4.5 lakh. BMC sources aid nearly 300 metric tonne of solid waste, including various forms of plastic bags, are generated each day in urban areas of Bhagalpur.
“Non-biodegradable plastic bags choke drains and sewers. Plastic bags also pose a threat to the lives of cattle, who, at times, consume them,” said BMC mayor Seema Saha.