BMC will penalise people on using plastic bags after June 23

In order to take strict actions against plastic use, Mumbai's Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will impose fine between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000 on those who fail to discard and use plastic bags before June 23, 2018.

This work will be carried out by a special squad who will penalise citizens for carrying plastic items such as plastic bags, cutlery, straws, and thermocol. The same will not impose fine on milk bags, PET bottles, and packaging for medicines.

The squad will consist of officers from various departments of the BMC, such as the license, shops and establishments and health departments, who will be joined by ward-level sanitary inspectors. This team will have the authority to raid commercial establishments and fine defaulters. A special uniform will be designed for the squad as well

While the establishment team will keep an eye on shops which use plastic, market inspectors will keep an eye on vegetable sellers and the licensing department will impose fine on hawkers on using plastic bags, said Deputy Municipal Commissioner (special), Nidhi Chaudhary.