Steely resolve: BMC has prosecuted 140 people since inception of plastic ban, netted `40 lakh

The BMC has so far prosecuted around 140 people for refusing to pay penalties for using banned plastic materials. It has issued notices to the offenders and initiated legal action against them.

According to officials, the civic body has also collected a fine of Rs 40 lakh from the offenders. They have also indicated that action against offenders is likely to be intensified in the coming days.

“Notices have been sent to those offenders who refused to pay penalties despite using banned materials. They will be tried before the metropolitan magistrate for violating the plastic ban,” said a senior BMC official from shops and establishments department.

According to the data, the 'plastic squad' has visited more than 98,896 establishments and seized around 3,348 kilos of banned plastic since the ban came into force from June 23.

The BMC has formed a team of inspectors from market, licence and shops and establishments departments to take action against plastic offenders. These inspectors have been visiting shops, malls, markets, hawkers and vendors in their bid to crack down on plastic offenders.

However, citizens have questioned BMC’s action, saying that the plastic ban has failed to achieve positive results. "It seems like the ban is applicable only in certain parts of the city, forget the entire state. While the ban is in full swing in the island city, suburban people strut around with plastic as if there is no ban in their area," said a Girgaum resident who requested anonymity.

On March 23, the state government issued a notification under the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification, 2018, banning the manufacture, usage, storage, distribution, wholesale, retail sale, import and transportation of a variety of plastic and thermocol goods.

Under the plastic ban, the state government has declared a fine of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for first and second-time offenders. A third-time offender will be fined Rs 25,000 and/or three months imprisonment.