Cuttack: Biodegradable carry bags will replace polythene packages to make Bali yatra a plastic-free zone this year.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation has decided to ban the use of polythene carry bags and plastic cups used for ebem serving tea, soft drinks and drinking water at the fair ground.

Municipal commissioner Bikash Mohapatra said: "The move is a step towards protecting the environment and promoting the use of recycled paper carry bags to keep Bali yatra free of polythene. "

On October 17, the east zone bench of the National Green Tribunal in Calcutta had allowed the festival to be held in the silted-up alluvium space on the north side of the river embankment (extended Bali yatra field), the areas where the festival had been held in 2016 on several conditions. One of the conditions said: "The festival site shall be declared as plastic-free zone by the authorities."

Mohapatra said: "To enforce the ban and comply with the tribunal's condition, special squads will be formed to prevent use of polythene in any form."

"Besides, to popularise the biodegradable packaging materials and carry bags, these items would be showcased in at least a dozen of kiosks by the civic body and the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society for direct sale," he said.

The society's chief executive of Cuttack chapter Bipin Rout said: "Customers will be delivered goods put up for sale at the kiosks set up by us to promote and sale of ethnic and rural crafts this year in biodegradable packaging materials and carry bags. All the 350 kiosks will deliver the goods in paper, net cotton or jute bags instead of the polythene bags."

The fair on the Mahanadi riverbank will start on November 4 and continue till November 10.

Nearly 1,400 kiosks and pavilions would be set up at the fair ground. Of them, around 350 kiosks will be allotted to the society to promote sale of rural crafts from across the country.