BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS

                                                     BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS

   A total ban on plastic carry bags is on the anvil in five major tourist destinations of the Capital district as part of the ambitious efforts of Thiruvananthapuram District Tourism promotion council (DTPC) to declare the district as plastic free.

  The Ban to be enforced initially at Kovalam, veli, Akkulam, ponmudi and Varkala. These places are frequented by domestic and foreign tourists mostly. It was a first step towards making the district plastic free and to check the environmental hazards caused by the material. The administration is also trying to rope in Kudumbasree units and other groups that produce paper bags,cloth bags and other Eco-friendly options to plastic bags.Once the ban is enforced, the authorities will  leave to ensure availability of paper bags and cloth bags as these destinations are frequented by tourists round the year.
  The move in the capital district comes close on the heels of the total ban on plastic carry bags enforced in Kanyakumari district and Guruvayur. A million plastic bags are being used every minute the world over. This amounts to 150 bags a year for every person on earth. The annual global use of plastic carry bags is estimated to be one trillion. India produces two million tonnes of plastic carry bags, and the, per capita consumption is 150 bags a year. In Kerala,plastic bags are choking drains and wetlands, creating vector breeding grounds.

                                                                                               Prof. John Kurakar