Crackdown on plastic bags in rural Siliguri

TT, 19 October 2019, Siliguri: The Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, the highest rural body in the Siliguri subdivision, has decided to intensify its crackdown on plastic carry bags.

Tapas Sarkar, the sabhadhipati of the SMP, said here on Friday that the parishad had already carried out an extensive campaign in all 22 panchayat areas around Siliguri to dissuade people from using plastic carry bags.

"Now that the campaign is over, we have decided to conduct raids in all four blocks (Matigara, Kharibari, Naxalbari and Phansidewa) to prevent the use of plastic carry bags. The shopkeepers and traders have been told that they should not use such bags. During the raids if any plastic carry bag is spotted, we will seize it. The shop owner or trader concerned will be asked to give a written undertaking that he will no longer use such bags," Sarkar said.

The sabhadhipati also held a meeting with SMP officials on the issue.

"The raids will continue and if any trader who has already given us an undertaking is found using plastic carry bags again, we will not renew his trade licence," he said.

Shops and other commercial establishments located in the SMP area have to renew their trade licence once a year from the local panchayat office.

Sarkar said the SMP would also impose fines on people using plastic carry bags.

"Like the civic areas, we want the rural areas to be free from such bags. That is why we have planned these steps," the sabhadhipati said.