19 units issued closure notices: State to HC

THE COURT GRANTED TIME TO CITIZENS TILL JUNE 23 TO DISPOSE OFF BANNED PLASTIC ITEMS, CARRYBAGS

MUMBAI : The state government on Friday told the Bombay high court that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) carried out a survey of plastic manufacturing industries and issued closure notices to 19 units violating the plastic ban notification of March 23, 2018.

In an affidavit filed in reply to the bunch of petitions, the government has stated that the MPCB has surveyed plastic manufacturing industries after issuance of the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification, 2018.

The affidavit adds that MPCB has decided to issue direction/ show cause notices to 171 manufacturing units, out of which, closure notices have been issued to 19.

It further states that a MPCB flying squad has also seized four trucks purportedly smuggling 16.7 tonnes of banned plastic bags, valued at ₹23.28 lakh, from Daman to retailers in Maharashtra.

On April 12, the court had rejected a plea of petitioners seeking interim stay on implementation of the notification.

But, the court has granted time till June 23 to citizens for disposing off banned plastic items in their possession.

Thus, from the midnight of June 23, persons found in possession of items banned under the notification will be prosecuted under section 9 of the Maharashtra Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 2006. Provisions of the Act provide for a fine of upto ₹5,000 for the first offence, upto ₹10,000 for the second offence, and upto three months in jail and ₹25,000 fine for every subsequent offence.