MPCB to distribute 52 lakh cloth bags for free in Maharashtra

To drive home its message of doing away with plastics and create eco-friendly alternatives for it, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will distribute around 52 lakh cloth bags free of cost to people in all municipal bodies in the state. The program, which will be launched from September 15 onwards, will see around three lakh bags being given out in Mumbai alone.

"The MPCB is looking at creating awareness about doing away with plastic bags through the distribution of cloth bags. We are planning to do it through shopkeepers in vegetable and grocery markets. For now, we are thinking that these bags may be given (to people) for free," Dr P Anbalagan, member secretary, MPCB told DNA.

"Otherwise, the corporations can ask the shopkeepers to charge people Rs 1 (per bag) which will be reimbursed on returning it," he said. "People forget about the messages on hoardings. However, these bags will be there for two years," said Anbalagan, adding these bags would have a message asking people to shun plastic bags.

Anbalagan said an average of around one lakh bags will be distributed to each of the 27 municipal corporations and 10,000 bags will be distributed to people in the 236 municipal councils. The cloth bags will also be given to citizens in the seven cantonment boards, 27 municipal councils and 124 Nagar panchayats. He added that drive was being undertaken according to the suggestion of environment minister Ramdas Kadam.

The number of bags that will be given out will depend on the size of each civic body. While around two to three lakh bags will be distributed in Mumbai, it will be around 1.5 lakh each in Thane, Pune and Aurangabad. Each bag will cost around Rs 12 to Rs 14 each.

The bags will be in three sizes and will be sourced from women self-help groups (WSHGs) through the Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM). The body has over one lakh WSHGs registered with it. The sewing of the bags will be decentralised to local WSHGs.

The distribution is likely to begin from September 15 on a decentralised basis and is expected to be completed by October-end.

The Maharashtra government has banned disposable, single-use plastic and plastic products, and thermocol. This ban was formally notified on April 11.

MPCB estimates suggest around 3 -5 per cent of municipal waste comprises plastic. Mumbai generates around 7,000- 8,000 metric ton solid waste daily, the figure for all 262 urban local bodies in Maharashtra is around 24,000 metric tons.