Vijayawada: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has announced a complete ban on single-use plastic in the city starting March 1. Municipal commissioner HM Dhyanchandra has issued orders, and officials are actively preparing for its enforcement through awareness campaigns and trader consultations.
VMC had previously launched efforts to make Vijayawada a plastic-free city in 2018, supplying free jute bags and prohibiting plastic packaging for food. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, plastic usage surged, leading to lower cleanliness rankings for the city.
With renewed focus on clean city initiatives, Andhra Pradesh’s major cities, including Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam, are taking stringent measures to eliminate plastic waste. VMC officials are engaging with traders to ensure alternative packaging solutions and prevent inconvenience to the public. A digital awareness campaign featuring art displays, wall posters, and social media outreach is also being planned.
“Plastic bags pose serious health risks, including potential cancer hazards when food items come in direct contact,” said VMC Commissioner HM Dhyanchandra. “We urge everyone to switch to cloth bags and encourage hotels to adopt eco-friendly packaging.”
To ensure compliance, strict penalties will be imposed on wholesalers and retailers selling plastic bags or other single-use plastic materials after March 1. The VMC has warned of immediate seizures and legal action against violators.
As part of the campaign, officials are organizing counseling sessions for traders to facilitate the transition. With these measures, Vijayawada aims to reclaim its clean city status and set a precedent for sustainable urban management.
Meanwhile, civic associations and trade associations are requesting the VMC to give some time for the implementation of plastic ban. “Traders have procured huge stocks of packing material without knowing about the plastic ban. We are ready to support the initiative of VMC. But we need at least two months time for preparation,” said K Rama Rao a trader at Vastralatha cloth market in city.
