The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) surveyed plastic manufacturing industries after issuance of the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification, 2018. The survey was conducted in reply to a few vigil petitioners.
As a result of the survey, 117 plastic manufacturing units were marked down for violating the plastic ban notification of March 23 and issued notices. 19 of these units were issued closure notices. Also, four trucks smuggling 16.7 tonnes of banned plastic bags from Daman to retailers in the state were confiscated by a MPCB flying squad.
The plea seeking an interim stay on the implementation of the notification by the petitioners was overruled by the court in April. However, a deadline of June 23 was granted for disposing off banned plastic items.