The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) has decided to take up the proposal for a statewide plastic ban on May 1, which is also celebrated as Maharashtra Day across the state. This comes after the State Environment Minister, Aaditya Thackeray, announced late last week that the city will stop using plastic starting May 1.
Those who are found to be in violation of the plastic ban will have to face the consequences, which are mostly limited to fines, while repeat offenders may have to face up to three months in jail.
The first offence post the ban will be fined Rs 5,000, while the second offence will be fined Rs 10,000. If it is repeated for the third time, the guilty party will be fined Rs 25,000 and will also be imprisoned for three months. It is said that the BMC will reportedly set up special teams in all 24 wards to enforce the plastic-ban.
“A special team will be set up to penalize citizens found using plastics. Shops, wedding halls, offices, hawkers and markets will be on the radar of this team. So far, the corporation has collected Rs 4 crore as fine for using plastic. Our target is to ban plastic completely by May 2020”, a BMC official said.
It is said that the BMC will also hold special competitions for citizens with a theme of plastic ban, thus encouraging people to learn more about the perils of long term plastic use. On Sunday, the BMC collected 1,028 kg of banned materials and is said to have collected Rs 3.75 lakh in fines. A total of 4,081 establishments which included restaurants, hawkers, and so on were prosecuted as part of this anti-plastic drive.
Also Read: Maharashtra Plastic Ban: 355 Plastic-Making Factories Shut Down Their Shutters In Maharashtra
Assistant Municipal Commissioner, G North Ward, Kiran Dighavkar - “The implementation of the plastic ban is our top priority. We have been asked to put all ward-level inspectors from shops and establishments, markets and licence departments to raise awareness, to inspect and confiscate banned plastics.”
While a ban on plastic in the city was proposed back in 2018, the movement lost its charm and single-use plastic became mainstream again. However, it seems like the authorities are finally willing to take necessary steps to stop the circulation of plastic in the city as well as the state.
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