Gopalpur-on-sea bans polythene bags

Use of polythene bags in Gopalpur-on Sea, a tourist resort town in Odisha's Ganjam district, has been banned.
While the district administration had directed the notified area council (NAC) to enforce the restriction on the environmentally-hazardous material, the civic body recently made a resolution to this effect to ban polythene which came into force yesterday, officials said.
Gopalpur will be taken as a pilot project in the district to ban the use of polythene bags.
"We will take similar steps in other towns and tourist places of the district depending on the the success of Gopalpur," said Ganjam district Collector, P C Chaudhary.

Earlier, the district administration had imposed ban on use of polythene in Tara Tarini Temple, a famous Shakti shrine and a tourist spot, while Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) banned the use of water pouches in 2009. But in the absence of strict enforcement, the ban has little effect as the use of the water pouches is rampant in the city.
Higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahi, who represents Gopalpur assembly constituency in the assembly, hailed the decision of the district administration.
The civic authorities in Gopalpur used loud speakers to educate people about the decision. "Besides, we will soon distribute leaflets in the city while hotels and tea-stall owners are told not to use polythene," said KK Sahu, executive officer, Gopalpur NAC.

He said the civic body will create awareness about the decision to ban use of polythene below 50-micron thickness for a fortnight till September 15. "We will impose fine after September 15," he said.