In a major crackdown against plastic pollution, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) seized 3,500 kilograms of banned plastic items on April 17 and imposed fines totaling ₹25,000. The drive was conducted across all municipal wards as part of the PMC’s intensified campaign to enforce the plastic ban within city limits.
In Kamothe, civic officials confiscated 300 kilograms of plastic items, including disposable spoons, glasses, bowls, and plates. A fine of ₹10,000 was levied on violators. The largest haul occurred in the Navade subdivision, where nearly 1,850 kilograms of plastic was found stored in a warehouse and promptly seized by authorities.
In Kharghar Ward Committee A, officials conducted raids and seized 250 kilograms of plastic, collecting ₹5,000 in fines. The Kalamboli Ward Committee B reported the confiscation of 450 kilograms of plastic and imposed a fine of ₹5,000. Meanwhile, the Panvel Ward Committee D seized 650 kilograms of plastic, also collecting a ₹5,000 fine from offenders.
Municipal officials have once again appealed to residents and businesses to refrain from using plastic bags and instead choose eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth or paper bags. “Citizens must support the Municipal Corporation’s efforts to create a plastic-free Panvel,” a civic spokesperson said.
The Panvel Municipal Corporation also reminded the public that the use of single-use plastic items has been prohibited in Maharashtra since March 2018. This includes all types of plastic carry bags, with or without handles, except for those specifically exempted such as garbage and nursery bags. Non-woven polypropylene bags under 60 GSM in thickness are also banned, along with plastic sticks used in items like cotton swabs, balloons, flags, candy, and ice cream. Decorative items made of plastic or thermocol are similarly prohibited.
Shopkeepers are only permitted to use single-use items made from compostable materials if they are certified as compostable by the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
With this sweeping operation, the Panvel Municipal Corporation has sent a strong message to violators and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmental sustainability.