NMMC seizes 255-kg plastic bags, collects `40K in fines

A week after NMMC collected Rs 40,000 following raids in Vashi and Ghansoli at shops using the banned plastic bags of less than 50 microns, the civic body conducted drives in Nerul and Turbhe and collected a fine of Rs60,000.

The Maharashtra government had imposed a ban on the use of plastic bags less that 50 micron in the state since 2006.

Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has ordered a crackdown on the use of plastic bags that do not confirm to the norms as they greatly harm the environment. This has intensified the drive by all ward offices against such use.

A drive was conducted by Nerul ward officer Uttam Kharat this week.

His team seized 55 kg plastic bags of less than 50 microns from five shops in sector 1 and Shiravane area of Nerul. Each of the shopkeepers was also fined Rs5,000 and a total of Rs25,000 was collected in fine.

The establishments raided include Modern Lunch Home, Satranj Wafers and Farsan, Ekta Oil Depot, Annapurna Sweet Mart and Bikaner Sweet and Snacks.

Another drive was conducted by Turbhe ward officer led by Prashant Narekar who has temporary charge as ward officer. His team raided establishments in sector 19 of Turbhe.

They included Siddhi Trading, Gala Brothers and Shobha Trading. Each of these shops were fined Rs10,000. A fine of Rs5,000 was levied on JK Papers, taking the total to Rs35,000. A total of 200 kgs of plastic bags was seized in the raids.

Additional municipal commissioner Ankush Chavan said, “The use of plastic bags poses risk to environment and human health and clogs drainage system. Hence the civic body has called upon traders as well as people not to use thin plastic bags.”

He added, “Residents are also responsible for environment preservation. They should stop using plastic bags since they adversely affect the environment.”