Ban on plastic carry bags in DK by November 1, says Ravi

According to Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada N.S. Channappa Gowda the district administration had banned use and sale of plastic carry bags and cups in Moodbidri and Mulky town limits from September 1 on an experimental basis.

To a question by presspersons Mr. Ravi said that the ban would be extended to the entire district before November 1.

He said initially people might feel uncomfortable. It was natural for people to oppose whenever there a change was attempted.

Mr. Ravi said there was opposition when the government had banned plastic carry bags and cups in Chikmagalur district sometime ago. Later people understood its importance and cooperated with the district administration there.

The Minister claimed that even cities like Surat and Mumbai had banned use of plastic carry bags “hundred per cent”.

Likening plastic carry bags and plastic cups to “modern demon” Mr. Ravi said that plastic bags clogged underground sewage networks and damaged environment. They should have been banned long ago.

The Minister clarified that the ban would also apply on plastic carry bags which are above 40 microns in thickness. The decision had been taken in the interest of people and people would have to cooperate with the district administration.

College in Moodbidri

To another question Mr. Ravi, who is also the Mister for Higher Education said that he would examine sanctioning a government first grade college to Moodbidri.

He said that a meeting of Deputy Commissioners and forest officials of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikmagalur would be convened in Bangalore shortly to discuss the subject of providing a package to those families living inside the Kudremukh National Park (KNP). The government should either rehabilitate families inside the KNP or provide basic infrastructure facilities in their area, Mr. Ravi said.

He said the Maoists believed in “administration through bullet”. It was anti-democratic. Naxalism was not a socio-economic problem. It was an ideology and a plot of implementing an agenda of ruling over bullet.

The Minister was in the town to review progress of development works in Moodbidri. Abhayachandra Jain and U T Khader, MLAs, K. Monappa Bhandary, MLC, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, and Bhavya Gangadhar, president, Mangalore Taluk Panchayat were present.