Balangir: Several organisations of the district urged the collector, Arindam Dakua, on Saturday to take up initiatives to stop the use of polythene here.

Karangakata Banchao Samiti, an outfit fighting for the restoration of the Karangakata tank, expressed concern over the use of polythene at a meeting.

Earlier, Balangir municipality had initiated a drive to curb the use of polythene, but it failed as the civic body could not implement the measures effectively.

Balangir collector Arindam Dakua said a squad would be formed this time.

"We will form a squad which will take up appropriate steps. It will conduct raids on the business establishments and other places and create awareness programmes. People must be made aware about the ill effects of polythene before we ask them to discard the use," Dakua said.

Local resident Sameer Pradhan said it was a good initiative by the district administration.

"Sambalpur and Sonepur have successfully implemented the ban long time ago. Though there had been efforts in the past to ban polythene in Balangir, but the steps couldn't bring about any change," Pradhan said.

Roads and drains of the town are found amassed with polythene which is not bio-degradable. "The step must be initiated immediately. People don't have the habit to use cloth bags to carry things," he said. A drive was started in November, 2017, to stop the use of polythene here. The use had reduced to a great extent due to regular raids by the municipality. But, after some time municipality officials took no interest in the drive.

"It is not always possible to achieve something by taking action. We thought people will take part in the

the drive on their own. But we were proved wrong," said executive officer of Balangir municipality Nabin Patel.