BMC To Distribute Free Cloth Bags To End Plastic Menace

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to reduce plastic usage in the city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to distribute cotton cloth bags free-of-cost to citizens, fruit and vegetable vendors.

In the first phase, the BMC is planning to set up kiosks in front of different shopping malls, weekly markets etc to distribute around 50,000 cloth bags to people with an aim to help citizens break the plastic bag habit, said the sources.

To monitor whether people are actually using these bags or not while shopping, the BMC will maintain a database of people such as their mobile number and address while giving them bags, the source added.

Initially, the civic body plans to start the initiative at a few shopping malls and daily markets and gradually, the entire city will be covered.

Besides, the BMC is taking up a 360-degree communication route to spread the message about not using plastic and its health and environmental hazards.

After drawing flak for not collecting fine from vendors using plastic and polythene bags, the Corporation, in October last year, had decided to collect Rs 500 fine from street vendors violating the banin the first instance, Rs 1,000 in the second instance and Rs 2,000 in the third instance after which they may face criminal proceedings, including cancellation of trade licence.

A campaign called ‘Mu Safaiwala’ was launched by the BMC on October 2 to raise awareness among citizens on sanitation.