The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) will launch a massive campaign against use of plastic carry bags of thickness below 40 microns. The campaign will be launched at Gariahat market of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) by the state environment minister, Dr Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar, on 1 July. Campaigns will be conducted at Baithakkhana and Manicktala markets on the same day. The New Plastic Waste (management and handling) Rules, 2011 has imposed a ban on the manufacture, stocking, distribution and sale and the use of plastic carry bags of thickness below 40 microns. Use of sachets made of plastic for storing, packing or selling of gutka, tobacco and pan masala is also prohibited. But despite notification the manufacture of plastic carry bags of thickness below 40 microns continue. A senior civic official said plastic bags are responsible for clogging of underground drains that cause waterlogging. Despite repeated requests manufacture of plastic bags of thickness below 40 microns could not be stopped. Some shopkeepers were using paper packet but stopped it as not enough people could be found to meet demand of the market. He said roads surrounding markets are waterlogged as plastic bags clog the underground sewer system. They also choke the heavy duty pumps that are used to clear accumulated water. It may be mentioned that the Howrah Municipal Corporation has stopped use of plastic carry bags of thickness below 40 microns following massive waterlogging that took place recently.