MPCB Flying Squad Seizes 14.5 Tonnes of Single-Use Plastic in State-Wide Crackdown | Representational Image
Mumbai: In the state-wide action to enforce the ban on single-use plastic, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) flying squad seized 14.50 tonnes of single-use plastic items and plastic bags from June 5, 2024, to January 26, 2025. During this period, the flying squad visited a total of 15,420 retail shops and action was taken against 901 shops that were using single-use plastic.
From the 901 shops, 13.43 tonnes of single-use plastic was seized and a total of Rs 26,36,000 were collected in the form of a penalty. During this period, a total of 58 storage godowns were also inspected and 1.087 tonnes of single-use plastic was seized from a total of 13 godowns, the statement issued by MPCB said.
The issue of single-use plastics came into the spotlight again following the recent press conference held by the MPCB Chairman and Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The authorities reiterated the ban on single-use plastics, initially enforced in 2018, and outlined further measures directed to the civic bodies.
The statewide action by MPCB squad includes Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Navi Mumbai, jurisdictions of Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, Ullasnagar Municipal Council, Bhinwadi Nizampur Municipal Corporation, Sangli, Kolhapur, Chiplun, Kanakavali, Chandrapur and Akola.
“The MPCB will continuously implement the single-use plastic ban through flying squads in collaboration with municipal corporations and local self-government bodies. MPCB Chairman Siddhesh Kadam has appealed to the general public to take the initiative to avoid the use of single-use plastic and also urged the retail and wholesale traders’ associations in the state to take the initiative in not distributing, storing and selling single-use plastic,” the statement issued by the board added.
