GHMC collects Rs.25.52 lakh as fine

The GHMC officials have collected Rs.25.52 lakh as fine from consumers of the banned plastic covers in the twin cities. So far in this financial year they have collected Rs.25, 51,860 as fines. 

The penalty amounts collected in various parts of the twin cities are: Rs.2.23 lakh in the Jubilee Hills circle, Rs.1.69 lakh in Moosapet circle, Rs.1.72 lakh in Goshamahal circle, Rs.1.65 lakh in Kapra circle, Rs.1.56 in Serilingampally circle, Rs.1.5 lakh in Khairatabad circle and Rs.1.25 lakh in Gachibowli circle.

A staggering 1.4 crore plastic covers are being used by the residents of the Greater Hyderabad, which has over 20 lakh houses. As many as 50 lakh families are staying in these houses and do shopping daily purchasing vegetables and essential commodities. Each of these families at the rate of one cover for purchasing



vegetables and essential items are using 1.4 crore covers. The use of such covers results in environmental issues.

As many as 73 covers are being distributed in the Greater Hyderabad area every year, most of them are of below 50 micron capacity. Most of such covers are used by mutton/chicken shops and curry points. If one cover gets dropped in a sewerage nala the flow gets blocked and the manhole gets jammed resulting in sewage overflowing on the road.

The civic body is striving through an awareness programme to educate the people not to use plastic covers of below 50 microns. As part of the programme, the GHMC deputy commissioners, medical officers, staff of the entomology and Swachh Dhooth departments have been going round every shop to inform the consumer of the ill-effects of using such covers.