Srinagar: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Saturday launched 6 R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Remove, Refuse, Report) campaign to put in place complete ban and eradicate use of polythene in Srinagar City.
Commissioner SMC Athar Amir flagged off the drive at S K Park Lal Chowk Srinagar. Joint Commissioner Adm Riyaz Ahmed Shah, Syed Abul Qasim, Chief Sanitation Officer Nazir Ahmed Baba and other officers, officials of the Corporation were present on the occasion. Commissioner SMC on the occassion stressed that to eradicate Polythene menace from Srinagar city , SMC has relaunched an extensive Anti Polythene campaign under the name 6 R campaign . The campaign would be extensive and sustainable having a focus not only on Reduce, Reuse , Recycle but also to Remove Polythene from day to day routine, Refuse taking ,stocking or selling polythene and also to Report ie provide information to the concerned authorities on finding a person selling, stocking or carrying polythene bag. Athar on the occasion requested people in general including NGO’s , students and people from all walks of society to come forward and join the cause as it is the collective and social responsibility of one and all to save our city from the hazardous polythene menace and banned single use plastic. SMC has created 24 check posts across the city at various entry and exit points and in the main markets of the city in all four zones ie south, North East and west zone to keep a tight vigil on selling or using of polythene. He said that Polythene and other single use plastics are extremely harmful to the environment and public health, adding therein that “In compliance with the SWM Rules, 2016 and PWM Rules 2016 & in in pursuance of various orders passed by the Hon’ble High Court of J&K and Ladakh there shall be complete ban on use and sale of single use plastics and polythene (as defined in the prohibited categories in Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016) in Srinagar Municipal Limits”.
He said that No one shall bring polythene or single use plastics into the Srinagar city for personal or commercial use via any of the entry points of the city and No one shall engage in sale of polythene and prohibited single use plastics in the city, stating therein further that ” No one shall sell goods or commodities in polythene or prohibited plastic bags and also one shall stock or hoard prohibited polythene or single use plastics,No one shall use or carry goods in bags made of prohibited polythene or single use plastic products.
Stating that no restaurant or hotel or eatery or any commercial unit shall use disposable items made of single use plastic or polythene for serving food or tea etc. to the customers, the Srinagar Municipa Commissioner further said “no individual shall use disposable items made of single use plastics or polythene in marriages or other social or religious functions and sll commercial units including shops, hotels, restaurants, street vendors, malls, institutes, offices (government & private), public or private sector companies, schools, colleges, universities etc shall not use prohibited polythene or single use plastics for packaging or sale”. He said there shall be following penalties for violation:
Rs 500 fine for use of polythene bags/ prohibited single use plastics by individuals
Rs 5000 fine for use or for selling goods in polythene bags by commercial establishments/units.
Rs 10,000 fine per kilogram for carrying, stocking or selling or bulk use of polythene or other prohibited plastics.
Rs 500 fine for littering by individuals
Rs 5000 spot fine for littering by commercial establishments.
Repeated offences shall invite heavy penalties including deregistration and sealing of the units.
The Srinagar Municipal Commissioner also directed Chief/Zonal Enforcement Officers, Heath Officer, Chief/Zonal Sanitation Officers, Chief Anti-Encroachment Officer, Anti-Encroachment Officers, Anti-Polythene Officers, Ward Officers and Sanitary Inspectors of SMC to enforce the order and are authorized to impose the fine on violations. Various NGO’s also participated in the event. On the occassion Nukad Naataks and musical events were also organised.
