"On the one side, punitive action will be taken against factories producing polythene, sellers and users of polythene, and on the other side, awareness programme against polythene use has started," District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said.
"We have tried to emphasise that discarding polythene means ensuring life of cow as well as holy Yamuna," he said.
Meanwhile, a massive rally of schoolchildren, businessmen, members of social and cultural organisations, government employees and managers of temples and ashrams, among others, was taken out in the city.
DM Kumar had said that the ban on carry bags made of polythene, plastic glasses, bowls, pouches and plates was announced following an Allahabad High Court order in 2012 and a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest in 2011.