Anti-plastic drive: Civic body seizes 140kg of plastic bags from traders

CBD BELAPUR: Stepping up its drive against the use of plastic carry bags of less than 50 micron thickness in the city, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) on Wednesday t ook action against two traders in Turbhe.

Acting on a tip- off, a team comprising deputy municipal commissioner (zone I) Subhash Ingle, deputy municipal commissioner (zone II) Suresh Patil and assistant municipal commissioner Ashok Madhvi raided two shops in Turbhe’s Sector 19A and seized 60kg and 80kg of plastic bags from their shops. The traders were asked to pay a fine of Rs10,000 for violating the norm.

Civic commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said, “Plastic bags harm the environment and also clog drains. It’s not only authorities, even residents are also responsible for the environment. They should stop using plastic bags since they adversely affect the environment. Hence, the civic body has called upon traders as well as people not to use thin plastic bags.”

Waghmare also suggested that residents use cloth and paper bags instead.