Yuva Sena chief says ₹5,000 fine pales against environmental cost

Doing good for our planet and our society at large is politics for me. We are proud to be the only party vociferously fighting for the environment AADITYA THACKERAY, Yuva Sena chief

MUMBAI: As the state gears up to enforce plastic ban from Sunday, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray has argued that a steep fine of ₹5,000 mostly targets manufacturers. In an interview with HT, the young Thackeray, who was at the forefront of the plastic ban narrative, talks about what prompted him to take up the issue and his party’s pro-environment stance. Here are excerpts. schools — to return them for recycling. Single-use disposable plastic will also be recycled. But more importantly, once the ban comes into effect, we need not fear about generation of plastic and its multiplication. We have to start now. For a global problem like this, there is no right time. We are way past it as the human race. I don’t know about other states and the reasons why they’ve failed. Of course we have studied them, but I don’t think it’s apt for us to comment. In Maharashtra, before the ban was drafted, we studied 17 other states and consulted with all stakeholders. The most important aspect is that citizens have taken this up like a revolution, even before the ban is in place. People are more aware now. For me, none of these issues is about electoral benefits. This was a gamble we took, so to speak. Thankfully, all of our issues have been welcomed and turned into a movement by people. Doing good for our planet and our society at large is politics for me. We are proud to be the only party vociferously fighting for the environment and taking conscious steps to protect it. We are also the only ones who believe in Mumbaiikars and that 24-hour cafes and shops would be great for the city.

The other parties who are opposing the plan don’t trust Mumbaiikars enough.