HYDERABAD: As part of the ongoing crackdown on plastic bags of less than 40 microns, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation ( GHMC ) officials on Sunday conducted surprise inspections on business establishments and seized over four tonnes of the banned plastic. Shop owners were also penalised. “We will carry out the drive every Sunday. Apart from penalising businesses, we are also educating consumers to use reusable products like cotton and jute bags,” said Bharat from GHMC’s Swachh Bharat Mission . For meat, civic staff urged consumers to carry steel containers.GHMC staff carried out raids on establishments flouting norms in Yousufguda , Chandanagar, Goshamahal, Kapra and Alwal.When TOI did a reality check to check usage of plastic, banned plastic bags were still being used by small and medium stores. While several grocery store owners were using banned plastic bags, supermarkets were using legal carry bags of above 50 microns. Even some shopping malls were banking on plastic carry bags.Apart from plastic carry bags haunting officials, even big eateries were single-use plastic items like cups, plates, spoons and glasses.“Unless alternatives are developed, plastic cannot be replaced. What people can do if the food is served in plastic articles to them,” said P M Sai Prasad, an RTI activist, said.Telangana plans to become single-use plastic-free state by 2022. The GHMC has even passed a resolution to ban plastic bags above 50 micron thickness (legal) with some exceptions, but state government is yet to clear the proposal.

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