Despite the ban on plastic in any form (below 50 microns) around Meenakshi Temple, which came into effect from January 1, it has come to light that many shops are still distributing it to the public.
Following complaints from environmental activists, Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri has formed five teams comprising sanitary inspectors from the Health department to conduct a door-to-door verification in and around Meenakshi Temple.
On Wednesday, the teams conducted simultaneous checks at Veli streets, Avani Moola streets, Chitrai streets and in other pockets.
Stocks in 22 shops
At the end, it was found that 22 shops had stocks of the banned plastic items. After registering cases, the officials seized a little over 400 kilograms of plastic from them.
Mr. Sandeep Nanduri has appealed to the public not to use plastics and help in preserving the environment.
“Only when the people supported the initiative, the city can experience better quality of life and it would be helpful for the officials to implement programmes at a much faster pace,” he also noted.
The Health department officials said that the public could carry cloth bags or jute bags while going out for shopping. Instead of taking carry bags (which are banned) from the shops, they can talk such traders out of using plastics.

The Commissioner said that while a large section of traders had displayed boards saying that “banned plastics are not used here”, total participation alone would help in achieving the goal.

Fine collected
A fine of ₹18,800 was collected from the violators.