Mangaluru: Every household in Mangaluru will soon receive two free cloth bags as part of Mangaluru City Corporation’s (MCC) drive to curb single-use plastic, even as officials warn that shops violating the ban risk losing their trade licences.MCC will distribute the bags across its 60 wards at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh. Self-help groups (SHGs) in the city will produce the bags.Dakshina Kannada DC Darshan HV said the distribution of cloth bags is a soft measure to implement the plastic ban, while a hard stance will be taken against violators. Shops found selling banned plastic bags will face cancellation of trade licences, he said.“In the past three months, officials conducted many surprise visits and issued warnings. We have also identified single-use plastic manufacturers outside Mangaluru and reported the same to the govt. The supply will reduce only if we stop the manufacturing. As long as the public demands plastic bags, the supply will continue. Some shops are secretly providing bags to the public. Even after being warned twice, they are continuing the violation. Hence, we have decided to cancel the license of the violators,” he said.The DC said MCC would give preference to SHGs that promote khadi. “When we invite tenders, bidders from all sections will show interest. However, we want to promote SHGs and thereby encourage women entrepreneurs,” he said.MCC has also taken up the issue of waste dumping into the Nethravati and the Phalguni. Officials imposed penalties on several vehicles found dumping waste, including plastic and construction material, into the rivers. “Going a step further, we have decided to register FIR against those who dump waste into rivers,” the DC added.
