To encourage people to dispose of their plastic waste, the SDMC has set up its collection centers across its four zones.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has accelerated efforts to confiscate polythene bags and plastic wastes lying in the areas under its jurisdiction. They have planned to lift bulk plastic waste from residential areas.
To encourage people to dispose of their plastic waste, the SDMC has set up its collection centers across its four zones. According to SDMC officials, a total of 10 such centers have been established in each zone. Citizens can dump their plastic waste at these centers. From there, the SDMC workers will take it to the designated site for proper recycling/disposal after segregation.
The prominent places, where these collection sites have been located, are Defence Colony Market, Nehru Place Market, T-market Sriniwaspuri, Sarai Kale Khan Bus Depot, Nizamuddin Dargah, Dariyaganj, Najafgarh Zone Office and Supermarket Janak Puri.
The civic body has also been making arrangements for collection of bulk plastic waste. Citizens, who have large stocks of plastic, can inform Zonal Control Rooms. The SDMC will provide the service for lifting the plastic waste from the residential areas.
Instructions have been issued by sanitary inspectors of all ward offices to assist public in properly disposing plastic goods at the centers.
The SDMC is making all-out efforts to disseminate the message of ban on single-use plastic in all the areas under its jurisdiction. It is also devising a procedure for collection and disposal of single-use plastic. It is also taking a host of other measures to create awareness for plastic's alternatives.
According to the SDMC, though people have been concerned over the harmful effects of the plastic, only a few take the initiative to use glass bottles, cloth bags and water dispensers with taps to quench thirst. Yet, around 35,000 pamphlets have been distributed in markets for awareness against polythene and plastics. The residents are exhorted to avoid use of polythene bags and use alternatives such as paper, jute and cloth bags for shopping and other purposes.
Meanwhile, the corporation is making all efforts to confiscate polythene bags from traders, stockists and shopkeepers. Since September 11, the date on which 'Swachhta Hi Sewa' programme was launched, the SDMC has been able to seize around 3,554 kg of polythene bags.
A total of Rs 3,18,200 has been collected as fine for possession of polythene bags. Further, during this drive, 397 properties were raided. During the intervening period, South Zone has inspected 33 properties and seized 215 kg polythene bags, issued 21 challans worth Rs 1,05,000.
Central Zone, in a single effort, seized 3,000 kg plastic bags from a single unit in Lajpat Nagar. As many as 36 properties were visited and warning was issued in three cases. Polythene bags weighing 315 kg have been seized and 21 challans worth Rs 1,00,000 have been issued for possession of polythene bags.
Under Najafgarh Zone, 241 properties were visited where 98 kg of polythene bags were seized and 210 challans were issued on the orders of the MM Court. In West Zone, 87 kg of polythene bags were seized, four properties sealed, eight challans were issued and an amount of Rs 10,000 was collected as a fine for possessing polythene bags.
