VIVAN Life Sciences Blog
It’s been three months since the state government of Maharashtra issued a notification calling for a ban on plastic.
Despite several protests by manufacturers due to lack of viable alternatives to plastic and recycling units, the government has decided to push its ban on a wide range of single-use plastic items and thermocol from 23rd of this month.
If you posses single-use non-recyclable plastic items and are planning to venture out with it, be warned. Steep fines starting from Rs 5,000 moving up to a whopping 25,000 will be imposed on those found with these items.
Also, the plastic items that have been exempted from the ban will come with a recycling surcharge to ensure they are not dumped or disposed of, but recycled.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has constituted a 249-member squad to monitor plastic usage on the streets. All of these members will have printed receipts for fines.
Citizens fined for the use of the banned plastic items have to be on the lookout. Do not pay fines without these printed receipts. All the fines charged and the seized plastic items will be monitored by the Assistant Municipal Commissioner (Special) of the corporation.
“We’ll go as a force to specific areas that are chronically affected. Houses won’t be raided,” Nidhi Choudhary, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special), BMC, told the publication.
Remember this squad has the authority to conduct raids wherever they please without issuing any prior notice.
Reference: The Better India
