Cuttack: The Cuttack district administration has planned to embed each food packet and beverage bottle with a QR code in order to keep a check on the dumping of plastic waste during Bali Jatra, which is scheduled to commence on November 8.
According to sources, plastic items will be sold at a slightly higher rate (Rs 5) than the MRP and once they are returned, the extra charge will be refunded.
As a part of the initiative, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) will take steps to emboss it on more than one lakh non-biodegradable food and beverage packets every day. It is mandatory for all the vendors, distributors, and shopkeepers coming to Bali Jatra to follow the rule.
“This initiative is a step in the right direction towards protecting the environment. It will help control littering and check thousands of kilograms of plastic waste dumped during the fair from going into landfills and waterbodies,” TOI reported CMC commissioner Nikhil Pavan Kalyan as saying.
Kalyan added that the civic body has spoken to the distributors of beverage and fast-food companies and they have already stocked up QR code-embedded bottles and packets. If a bottle or a food packet with the QR code is discarded and someone else finds it and returns it, then he/she will get Rs 5.
There are 50 collection centres on the Bali Jatra field where visitors can submit these food packets and bottles and collect the amount.
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