The Rairakhol administration has decided to ban polythene from January 15 next.
Rairakhol Sub-Collector Kabindra Sahu in a meeting with all the sub divisional level officials in the NAC office premises urged the businessmen and the public not to use polythene. State Pollution Control Board engineer Babita Singh was present, among others.
“At the first phase, we well make people conscious about the catastrophic results due to use of polythene. later, we will go for enforcement,” said Sub Collector Sahu. We will also ask businessmen to have sufficient alternatives of polythene so that the costumers will not return from any shop in absence of polythene as they have become well-acquainted with its use. Shop keepers will be asked to store sufficient paper and cloth bags with them so that both sides will not face any problem, he stated.
The police, revenue, forest and pollution control board, NAC and health departments will also sensitize the school and college students on the adverse results of polythene use, so that they could also educate their parents and neighbours, he informed.
Sub divisional headquarters apart, the drive will be extended to the rural places that will also increase the recycling of newspapers and cotton bags thereby creating a good income opportunity for the poor people, the Sub Collector said, adding that steps would be taken, at a later stage, to close down the wholesale godowns and shops selling polythene.