Thursday, 19 August 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has delayed the decision of launching the anti-plastic campaign in the city once again due to the ongoing anti-dengue campaign and monsoon. In the past two years, the consumption of single-use plastic has increased drastically in Dehradun after the State government lifted the ban due to the Covid-19 pandemic to provide necessary supplies to the needy. Though the ban was reinstated by the government earlier this year, there is no considerable decline in the use of single-use plastics, especially by vegetable and fruits street vendors and local shopkeepers.
The MCD had started a campaign in April against the use of single-use plastic by imposing penalties on local vendors and consumers but it was hindered due to the Covid curfew in the State. The MCD officials had stated last month that they will start the anti-plastic campaign from August but now, they have decided to postpone it. According to the chief municipal health officer, Dr Kailash Joshi, the MCD is currently focusing on the anti-dengue campaign and tackling issues like waterlogging during monsoon. He informed that the sanitation team of MCD has surveyed over one lakh houses and destroyed mosquito larvae in over 8,000 houses so far in association with district administration.
The teams are also spreading awareness among locals and fogging all the wards as a part of the campaign, informed Joshi. He said that a few dengue patients have been found in the district and MCD is working to minimise the risk of dengue disease here. Joshi said that MCD is planning to restrict the use of single-use plastics and will possibly commence the campaign next month.
