Banned plastic items being smuggled from Guj: Kadam

Environment minister Ramdas Kadam on Saturday said that banned plastic items are being smuggled into the state from Gujarat, and asked why the Prime Minister can not ensure a ban on plastic in his own state.

The BJP-led Maharashtra government recently banned one-time-use plastic bags, bottles and several other items.

Speaking to reporters here, the A Shiv Sena minister said the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) seized five vehicles carrying plastic bags from Gujarat near Dahanu on May 31.

“PM Narendra Modi talks about environment protection in his ‘Man ki baat’. Why can’t he stop (production of) plastic which is harmful for environment in his home state,” Kadam asked.

MPCB officials had got a tipoff that plastic bags were being brought into the state from Gujarat, and kept watch on Charoti toll naka on Maharashtra-Gujarat border, he said. They seized five vehicles which were carrying plastic bags meant for shops in Malad and Kandivali areas in Mumbai, Kadam said.

Kadam, who had pushed for the ban on plastic, denied that it has rendered many people jobless. "80 to 90 per cent of plastic items came from Gujarat," he said.

Earlier, Kadam instructed officials to clean and beautify rivers and nullahs in the state in the next six months.

“Rivers and nullahs should be cleaned, beautified and made pollution-free in the next six months, especially Mumbai's three rivers, Mithi, Dahisar and Boisar,” he said.