Stop manufacturing plastic; ban in Dakshina Kannada from April 15: DC

[email protected] (CD Network | Photos by Suresh)

March 18, 2016

Mangaluiru, Mar 18: The State government has banned the manufacture, transport, supply, sale and use of 12 plastic products in the State with immediate effect, but it will be implemented in Dakshina Kannada only from April 15.

The use of all types of plastic carry bags, banners, buntings, flex boards, flags, plates, cups, spoons, cling films, plastic sheets used for spreading on the dining table irrespective of thickness, and all the items made of thermocol and plastic will be banned.

The State government issued a gazette notification to this effect on March 11.

Speaking to presspersons after holding a meeting with the stakeholders on Friday, A.B. Ibrahim, Deputy Commissioner, said that plastic manufacturers should stop producing the banned products and clear the stocks by March 31. The wholesale traders should stop its supply and sale in a week from April 1. Retail traders and others should not use them from April 15.

In the meeting, initially the Deputy Commissioner said that plastic manufacturers would be given only a week to stop producing the banned products. But bowing to their pressure, he extended it till March 31. Rajashekara Puranik, Environmental Officer, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board said that according to the explanation in the notification, “plastic” also included polyamides (Nylon). Hence it applied to Nylon also.

The Deputy Commissioner said that some were selling “non-woven poly propylene” as an alternative to plastic carry bags. The ban applied to its manufacture, sale and use also. He said that he was directing all temples to stop using them.

Suresh Shetty, social worker, said that “non-woven poly propylene” bags flooded the market in the city, after the then Deputy Commissioner N.S. Channappa Gowda banned the use of plastic carry bags from November, 2012. Some plastic manufacturers and suppliers made people to believe that it was an alternative to plastic carry bags. In reality, it was not.

The Deputy Commissioner asked urban local bodies to promote use of cloth and jute bags in the district as an alternative to plastic.

P.I. Sreevidya, Chief Executive Officer, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, was present.

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Good move...appreciable

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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