City mayor B Karthika Chandra Reddy on Monday appealed to the citizens to shun use of plastic and help in saving the environment and preserving it for future generations.

She said Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) was committed to implement ban on use of plastic effectively and taking all necessary steps in that direction like creating awareness among public on its health hazards.

The mayor was addressing a meeting of representatives of hotels, grocery shops, sweet shops and others in Hyderabad.

She suggested discussion with plastic manufacturing units on use of alternative material in place of plastic bags.

Reddy asked GHMC officials to launch an awareness drive before strictly implementing, from July, a complete ban on manufacture, usage and storage of any kind of plastic carry bags irrespective of their microns.

The city was facing a lot of problems because of rampant use of plastics which often obstruct free flow of water in nalas, the mayor said.