Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has intensified its drive against single-use plastic, collecting Rs. 85,000 in fines and seizing 283.7 kilograms of banned plastic during the first fortnight of April. The crackdown is part of a city-wide campaign to eliminate plastic pollution under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde.
Special flying squads from Ward 1 and Ward 2, operating under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners Dr. Kailas Gaikwad and Somnath Potre, have been actively inspecting markets and monitoring transportation routes to intercept illegal plastic distribution.
The actions were carried out in Ward 2 under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kailas Gaikwad. On April 17, officials seized 20 kilograms of plastic being transported on a two-wheeler in the Mahape MIDC area and imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000. The following day, another 60 kilograms of plastic were confiscated at the Airoli toll plaza from a two-wheeler, again resulting in a Rs. 5,000 fine.
Additional inspections in Koparkhairane and Airoli led to further seizures. At Rawaray General Stores in Sector 18, Koparkhairane, five kilograms of plastic bags were confiscated and a fine of Rs. 5,000 was imposed. Similarly, in Sector 20, Airoli, one kilogram of plastic bags was seized from a vendor and a Rs. 5,000 fine was collected.
Altogether, 17 individuals and business entities were penalized during this drive, and a total of 283.7 kilograms of banned plastic was seized by the enforcement squads of Wards 1 and 2, operating under the guidance of Deputy Commissioners Mr. Somnath Potre and Dr. Kailas Gaikwad.
The NMMC has issued a strong appeal to citizens and business owners to voluntarily stop using plastic bags and adopt eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth or paper bags. The civic body has emphasized that single-use plastics pose a serious risk to both human health and the environment, and their elimination is critical for a cleaner, greener Navi Mumbai.