The Forest Department will soon launch an awareness drive to educate people that bags that resemble cloth being used by shopkeepers instead of plastic carry bags have been banned by the government.

Replying to queries from reporters Forest,?Environment and Ecology Department Additional?Chief Secretary T?M?Vijayabhaskar said the bags, which resemble cloth contain “non-woven polypropylene, have been banned by the state government along with plastic carry bags. He said many shopkeepers and hoteliers have started using these bags assuming that they are biodegradable and environment-friendly. They are also charging Rs 2 to Rs 10 for these bags depending on its size, he added.

Vijayabhaskar said many people do not know that polypropylene is a sort of plastic and a synthetic resin.

This will also be brought to the notice of officials responsible for implementation of the ban, he added. A source said Forest Minister B Ramanath Rai also held a meeting to review the implementation of the plastic ban. It was decided that the state government will speak to the Jute Corporation of India to provide material than can serve as alternative to plastic bags, he said.

The meeting felt that vigil at check points should be stepped up to prevent the entry of plastic carry bags into the state, the source said. The government, through a notification on March 11, imposed a complete ban on plastic irrespective of its thickness. These include plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic buntings, flex, plastic flags, plates, cups, spoons, cling films and plastic sheets for spreading on dinning table irrespective of thickness.