Sambalpur: The municipal corporation here has started efforts to check the use of polythene and other plastic materials in the town by strictly enforcing the law.

The enforcement department of the municipal corporation has collected Rs 54,900 in April and May this year by imposing fines on small shop-owners and business houses for using polythene, enforcement officer Subhaskar Mohanty told The Telegraph.

With the strict imposition of the rules and frequent checks carried out in various areas, the use of plastic and specially polythene have drastically reduced, he said adding during 2017-18, the corporation had collected Rs 4.5 lakh from the business houses for using the banned items.

Apart from this, the corporation collected a fine of Rs 94,800 and Rs 60,000 from the residents and some of the business establishments for dumping garbage on the streets or in drains in April and May respectively.

"Sambalpur Municipal Corporation is strictly implementing the ban on plastic and enforcing the 'plastic waste management tools' following government of India guidelines," Mohanty said.

Mohanty said the civic body would shortly implement a "Polluters' payment" following the Centre's guidelines in the town. As part of this, any business establishment using plastic of more than 50 micron thickness would pay Rs 4,000 a month to the corporation. This would discourage businessmen to use plastic.

Mohanty said the ban of plastic was initiated in 2014 when jaundice had spread in town 30 people had died of it. Gradually, people accepted the idea and are now using cotton and paper bags.

"We are now using paper cups, glass, plates and wooden spoons instead of plastic ones," said Papu, the owner of a catering service.

With the use of paper bags in vogue, old newspapers are in high demand.

A large number of people, especially women, have taken up paper bag making as a source of income.

The price of old newspapers, which sold at Rs 5 a kg, now sells for Rs 12 a kg.