Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board in association with Greater Chennai Corporation installed a cloth bag (manjapai) vending machine at Koyambedu fruit and vegetable market on Sunday on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu launched the initiative on a pilot basis in the presence of other senior government officials.
The initiative is a part of the ‘Meendam Manjapai’ (return of the cloth bag) scheme launched by Chief Minister MK Stalin last December.
Officials said a Rs 10 note or coin would have to be inserted in the vending machine to get the cloth bag.
Happy World Environment Day. We are unveiling the Manjapai (cloth bag) vending machines in Chennai today. The biggest service we can do to our mother earth is not to kill it with plastic and pollution. #World Environment Day #OnlyOneEarth #atmosphere pic.twitter.com/wAPTyXbHSv
– Supriya Sahu IAS (Supriya Sahu) 5 June 2022
Addressing the media persons, Sahu said that the cloth bags will also contain information about the safety of animals.
“We have started this initiative in Koyambedu on a pilot basis. For a month we will analyze how people use this machine, what are the challenges they face in operating it and after that we will take steps to install such machines in bus stops, markets and shopping complexes across the state. Will pick up Several women from self-help groups are involved in making these bags. Hence, this initiative will provide them more earning opportunities. If this initiative is successful, it will serve as an important step towards banning the use of plastic items in the state. I believe this is the first time such a measure has been implemented in the country.”
Notably, the state government had banned single-use plastic items like cups, plates and straws in 2019.