The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has launched a drive to make the ancient city plastic free. Under the campaign, if a person even takes a packet of chips or crisps then he will have to deposit Rs 50 as security. The same applies to water bottles, packets of chips or any other plastic packing food that needs to be taken to the Ganga ghat.
The customer will get the deposit back when they return the packet to the shopkeeper. Strict action will be taken against him if the shopkeeper does not pay back the deposit.
New order issued by the Municipal Commissioner of Varanasi
The Municipal Commissioner of Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) issued an order to the permanent and temporary shopkeepers of Ganga banks under the Dashashwamedh Zone stating that now if they want to woo their customers by selling sealed water and plastic packet food including crisps and chips they have to collect Rs 50 as security money from each customer.
When the customer returns that packet, bottle to the shopkeeper after using the packet food or puts it in the dustbin in front of them, then the shopkeeper will have to refund that amount. While issuing this order, the Municipal Commissioner of Municipal Corporation has ordered with strict attitude that the administration will take strict action against the shopkeepers who do not follow this order.
Govt's aim to make Varanasi ghats plastic free
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge as an MP in Varanasi since 2014, many changes have been made for the rejuvenation of Kashi. In order to speed up the cleanliness campaign, PM Modi himself had swept the Jagannath temple march on October 2, 2014 in Assi area of his parliamentary constituency and started the cleanliness campaign by running a shovel at Assi Ghat.
Municipal Commissioner spoke to India TV
Municipal Commissioner Shipu Giri told India TV on the phone that our aim is to make Ganga and its banks plastic-free, including the Kashi Vishwanath temple. An order has been issued in this regard. Using plastic not only has a negative effect on the cleanliness of the Ganga Ghats, but it also affects the water and the environment badly, the chemical elements and toxins of plastic contaminate the environment by dissolving in water and soil. That's why this order has been issued.
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