GHMC ban plastic carry bags in Hyderabad

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) general body meeting on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution to ban plastic carry bags in the city.

As of now, carry bags below 50 microns are banned. Now, in compliance with the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, GHMC has decided to impose ban on manufacture, supply, sale and use of all types of plastic carry bags. The proposal has been sent to the government, but a final decision has to be taken by the state authorities.

As per the new proposal, individuals, shopkeepers, vendors, wholesalers, retailers and hawkers would not



be allowed to use plastic bags. Further, no industry or person should manufacture, supply, store, transport, sell and distribute plastic carry bags. If found guilty, for the first time, an offender would be fined Rs.25,000, second time violation attracts Rs.50,000 and if caught for the third time, his/her firm or establishment would be sealed.

However, the civic body gave exemptions to plastic carry bags manufactured exclusively for export purpose against any export orders in a plastic industry located in a special economic zone (SEZ) and export oriented units (EOU).