Plastic ban in Munnar panchayat from July 1

Munnar hill station, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, is set to become plastic-free soon. As part of this initiative, the Munnar panchayat will ban the use of plastic carry bags and water bottles smaller than half a litre starting Wednesday.

According to Munnar panchayat president S. Vijayakumar, the local body has decided to strictly enforce the ban.

“Until July 10, officials will check shops and tourists, issuing warnings against the use of plastic carry bags and sub-half-litre bottles. From July 11 onwards, fines will be imposed on non-compliant shops. Initially, a fine of ₹5,000 will be levied. For a second offence, it will increase to ₹10,000, for a third to ₹25,000, and a fourth violation will attract a fine of ₹1.25 lakh,” Mr. Vijayakumar said.

Officials stated that the panchayat will also prohibit food from being served or packed in plastic bags in the future. “Plastic accounts for over 80% of the total waste generated in the panchayat. We are currently paying ₹5.90 per kg to companies to take away the plastic waste, and we spend over ₹2 crore from our plan fund on waste management. By reducing plastic waste, these plan funds can be redirected toward public welfare projects,” the president added.

Plastic bottles under half a litre pose another major threat to the hill station. “When a wedding is held in the area, nearly 2,000 plastic bottles are dumped nearby. These small plastic bottles frequently block the panchayat’s drainage system,” he said.

In addition, the panchayat announced cash rewards for citizens who report illegal waste dumping within its jurisdiction. “The public can send video proof to the panchayat, and we will take strict action. The informer will be rewarded with 25% of the total fine collected,” the president said.