Minister for Social Welfare and Environment M. Kandasamy, along with officials from the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, on Friday conducted surprise checks at outlets selling plastic bags and plastic manufacturing units in Mettupalayam in Puducherry.
Stating that this was in preparation for the ban of plastics of below 50 microns thickness that would be implemented by October 1, he said that all the five plastic shops and hotels they checked on Friday were selling plastic bags, cups and plates between 15 and 30 microns thickness. Checks were conducted at outlets selling plastic on Ananda Rangapillai Street, Bharathi Street and Vellalar Street and the team headed by the Minister for Environment visited five plastic manufacturing units in Mettupalayam. The team collected samples of plastic bags that were below 50 microns for test.
“We are going to ban all the plastic bags, plates and cups that are less than 50 microns. The industries should stop manufacturing these plastic materials below 50 microns,” he said.
He added that even hotels were serving and packing food in plastic covers which were dangerous to health. “People are forced to consume even plastic with food. Several people are suffering from cancer in Puducherry. This is evident in the number of cancer patients being treated at the General Hospital and Jipmer,” he said.
He said that shops selling water in plastic bottles should buy back bottles by paying ₹1 or ₹2 a piece.
Mr. Kandasamy underlined that a committee had been formed to conduct surprise checks and raids take action against those manufacturing plastics below 50 microns.