Srinagar, Apr. 20: The municipal corporation of Srinagar has launched a massive cleaning drive in association with the Trader''s Federation in a bid to make the city polythene free.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has joined the anti-polythene drive, and started their campaign from world famous Dal Lake by collecting polythene bags from the lake.

"We have taken this initiative to clean the area surrounding Nehru Park and Dal Lake and other places so as to clean the environment," said Sunil Kumar, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

Raw sewage, land encroachment and years of neglect have been threatening the survival of the Dal Lake where visitors from across the world once enjoyed the idyllic stillness of fresh waters surrounded by cedar-laden Himalayan mountains.

The initiative is much appreciated by the locals, who say that such drive is a must.

"The effort they (CRPF) have taken is well appreciated and polythene is a menace, which should be banned all over the world," said Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper.

Mohammad Sadiq Bakal, President, Traders And Manufacturers Federation, said that they would ban the second grade polythene bags, as they are more hazardous.

"We have decided to ban the second grade polythene bags with Municipal Corporation," said Bakal.

Kashmir water bodies have been under a tremendous threat due to the growing pollution and some experts say that nothing is bigger than the polythene alone.

There are increasing concerns about the unabated use of polythene in the state, but Srinagar Municipal Corporation has failed to ban the polythene use in the state. (ANI)