GHMC has decided to provide steel boxes

In order to encourage the plastic ban, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has decided to provide steel boxes and jute bags at subsidised prices to all meat shops and vegetable vendors. Depending on the results the civic body may provide the same to citizens.

According to a GHMC official, meat shop owners and vegetable vendors are for-ced to use plastic bags as most citizens do not carry their own bags.A senior GHMC official said that the price of the jute bags and steel boxes will vary from Rs 5 to RS 20 depending on the size. He said that the civic body will make it mandatory to pack meat and vegetables in the boxes and bags. It plans to impose heavy fines in case of violation. He also said that the corporation will simultaneously ban plastic manufacturing units which produce single-use disposables, in a phased manner.

The GHMC official said that based on the results, the corporation will provide the same to citizens at subsidised prices after conducting extensive awareness campaigns prior to the launch of the project. The civic body is also planning to take the help of corporations to fund the project as part of the latter’s corporate social responsibility.

The official said that the bags and boxes will have GHMC logo and would maintain a record regarding their distribution.