BMC intensifies efforts to enforce plastic ban in Mumbai’s markets as part of awareness campaign | Representational photo
Mumbai: The BMC has launched an awareness campaign in response to directives from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to tackle the use of single-use plastics.
This initiative, which began on Monday, includes actions against those using such plastics. The civic body is also considering imposing fines on consumers, however, the exact fee structure for these penalties is still under deliberation.
Despite the plastic production ban in Maharashtra, plastic products continue to dominate the market. The BMC is intensifying its efforts to enforce the plastic ban, which had slowed down after an initial push in July 2022. The renewed focus will be on making 91 civic-run markets completely plastic-free as part of this strengthened enforcement drive.
“The ward-wise licence inspectors and other officials will frequently inspect markets to educate citizens, hawkers, and shopkeepers about the plastic ban. We are also considering reducing the penalty amount, which is currently very high for consumers and hawkers,” said a civic official.
In a review meeting last month, the MPCB instructed BMC to take strict action against users of prohibited single-use plastic products. The production, use, sale, transportation, handling, and storage of plastic products have been banned in the state under a notification issued by the Government of Maharashtra on March 23, 2018.
As per civic policy in case of violations producers, stockists, suppliers, and sellers, must pay Rs 5,000 for first offence Rs 10,000 for the second and a fine of up to Rs 25,000 and/ or imprisonment for 3 months for an offence after that.
* In 2024, the BMC visited 44,448 shops and establishments, seized 2,148 kg of plastic, and collected Rs 41.70 lakh in fines.
* Single-use plastic items such as carry bags, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, thermocol decorations, and cutlery including forks, spoons, knives, straws, and trays etc are banned.
