Plastic bags choking drainage system

SANGRUR, July 22: Plastic bags that find their way into the litter are playing havoc with the town8217;s drainage system. Since the past few days most parts of the town have been plagued by severe waterlogging and the municipal authorities say that a major reason for this was the growing number of plastic bags that find their way into the town8217;s drainage system, leading to its choking.

Municipal Council chief Mahesh Kumar Maheshi said that teams of Safai Karamcharis have been pressed into service to pump out sewerage water and plastic bags from sewerage lines at vulnerable points. As for banning use of polythene bags, Maheshi admitted that there were several legal hurdles in implementing this.

He said that the problem could only be solved by creating public awareness on the issue and added that the authorities had decided to take the help of various citizens8217; groups to fight the menace.

Meanwhile, Maheshi disclosed that the municipal council has passed a resolution to ban the use of polythene bags. He said that the permission of the state government was awaited in this regard. After the requisite sanction, the municipal council would be able to check further spread of pollution due to plastic bags.