Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday announced that polythene would be banned in the state from May 1."Cleanliness campaign is being undertaken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state. One of the prime obstacle in keeping cities clean is the use of polythene, and that is the reason it will be banned from the month of May," he said after hoisting the national flag on the occasion of 68th Republic Day celebrations."Instead of polythene which is harmful of the environment, paper and cloth will be used," Chouhan said, adding anybody caught using polythene will be punished.The state government has also resolved to free the region from open defecation, he added.