JUMLA, May 7 -- With the aim of reducing environmental and health hazards, Chandannath Municipality in Jumla district has banned the use of non-reusable plastic bags.

From now onward, the residents of the municipality will only use bags made of jute and other fabrics. The only municipality in Jumla took this decision to make itself free of plastic, according to Arjun Singh Kathayat, spokesperson for the municipality. "Let's reduce the use of plastic materials as much as possible and create a clean and green place for living," said Kathayat.

The municipality has handed over six quintals of jute and fabric bags to Jumla Chambers of Commerce and Industry for distribution. The local shopkeepers or traders will have to provide those bags to ...