The KMC earlier had decided to enforce such ban from the first day of New Nepali Year. [break]
Authority at KMC said that the ban will enforced strictly at once across the metropolis. They believe that pollution would reduce drastically if they succeed in banning polythene bags in the metropolis. Pollution and garbage management has been major nuisance to the metropolis for years
Due to some technical difficulties we cannot enforce the ban immediately and have set new date to launch campaign," Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, Executive Officer of KMC, said. He said the metropolis has spent months to convince plastic manufacturers for not to produce poly bags.
"We have announced the date despite their disagreement," said Adhikari. The Environmental Department of KMC had held several meetings with entrepreneurs and asked them to improve quality of find alternatives. The KMC asked them to produce reusable or degradable plastic bags. Entrepreneurs have complained that banning of plastic bags would inflict them a heavy damage as production of the degradable plastic bags will be costlier. The low grade polythene bags are considered to be one of the major causes of environmental degradation in metropolis.
“Instead of polythene bags we are working to promote carry bags,” he said, adding, “We can significantly bring down pollution levels if the use of plastic bags can be completely banned." KMC has already banned the use plastic bags at the main heritage sites. The office has already banned production of polythene bags less than 20 microns.
The metropolis urged all for not to use polythene bags and also warned to take action as per Solid Waste Management Act-2068. As per the act the KMC can fine Rs 500 for plastic bags users and Rs 1,000 to the traders.
The KMC said that massive awareness will be created before the campaign is launched. Adhikari said that metropolis will sent employees to most of the shops to request the traders for not to use plastic bags. "They will also stick warnings in their shops," said Adhikari. The office said that it will also take support of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working in the environmental sectors to make the campaign effective.
KMC has already banned the use of poly bags in main heritage sites like Pashupatinath, Swyambhunath, Boudhanath and Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square.
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