Two tonnes of banned carry bags seized again

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The municipal corporation’s solid waste management department has intensified its drive to make the city free of banned carry bags. Continuing its crackdown, officials on Monday seized nearly two tonnes of prohibited plastic carry bags from two traders in the New Mondha area and imposed a total fine of Rs 50,000 -Rs 25,000 each.

Deputy commissioner Nandkishor Bhombe said the action would continue in the coming days. Plastic carry bags below 50 microns in thickness are considered hazardous to the environment and public health. The state government banned such carry bags in 2014 and later extended the ban to single-use plastic. However, their use had continued openly in the city. The civic administration launched a sudden enforcement drive last week and has so far seized around 13,000 kg of carry bags, triggering concern among traders. While some voluntarily deposited plastic stock with the corporation, others allegedly continued to sell banned plastic discreetly. On Monday, the civic ‘Nagari Mitra’ squad inspected shops in New Mondha. One locked shop was opened for inspection, leading to the seizure of one quintal of carry bags. In total, around two tonnes of plastic stock were confiscated from Swastik Plastic and Dwarakadhish Traders.