The civic body on Tuesday assigned 30 officials to ensure the enforcement of the ban on polythene.

Commissioner of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation Sarat Nayak told The Telegraph on Tuesday that public places, market places, shops and establishments would be the focus of the civic administration where these assigned officials would visit and detect the offenders.

“The enforcement of the ban will be restricted to seizures from the offenders and warnings till September 29. By then, we expect to be armed with powers to impose penalty on offenders and also initiate criminal proceedings,” Nayak said.

Nayak further said that with the enforcement of the ban, manufacture of polythene carry bags within the corporation area has been prohibited. “We have already moved the Odisha State Pollution Control Board to ensure closure of polythene making units that are mostly concentrated in Jagatpur,” he said.

However, plastic used for packaging medicines and food-grade plastic bags used for packaging items such as milk will be allowed.

Deputy commissioner Sarita Dhanwar said that all the 59 wards of the city have been divided into four zones, to be looked after by as many squads. Each of the squad will have seven to eight members — including civic officials and officials from various other wings such as engineering, tax, licence and sanitation.

“The assigned officials will visit various places within the civic body’s limits to oversee implementation of the polythene ban between 2pm and 5pm on every working day,” Dhanwar said.

Sri Vihar resident Swarupini Patnaik said: “The government’s move is vital to save our environment and it should not fail at any cost. People will definitely support the move once they are sufficiently made aware of the advantages of the ban.”

Shankarpur resident Prafulla Mohanty said: “There were positive signs on the first day. Several shopkeepers and vendors took the ban seriously and stopped giving items in polythene carry bags.”