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| plastic ban |
This seizure was part of NMC's continuous drive to curb use of plastic bags below 50 microns thickness in the city. In the last three months, NMC has seized 480 kgs of plastic below 50 microns and collected a fine of Rs 4.96 lakh. While these seizures are significant, they have failed to curb rampant use of banned plastic bags. Vendors as well as customers continue to turn a blind eye to their use.
The bags have been banned because they choke up the drainage and sewer lines and are also a hazard to cattle that ingest them while foraging in garbage. It's been over four years since the government banned the use of thin plastic bags. The ban, however, does not seem to have much impact on both vendors and customers in Nagpur as blatant use of these plastic bags continues in all markets across the city.
In the past, officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had conducted raids but it had had little effect on the vendors and customers. NMC fines first-time offenders Rs 5,000. Repeaters are fined Rs 10,000. An imprisonment of three months and fine of Rs 25,000 is imposed if the guilty repeats the act for the third time, informed health officer Dr Milind Ganvir.
He said, "We have been conducting regular drives to curb use of these bags. We are, however, aware they continue to be used. Strict action is being taken and no one is spared."
Earlier this year, the state government was mulling over a ban on polythene bags over 50 microns as well. This may be done to increase efficacy of the ban. The anti-plastic carrybag drive begun with a ban on the use of plastic below 20 microns in 2005. A year later, the ban was extended to below 50-micron plastic. Current provisions in the Maharashtra Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Ordinance, 2006, exclude thin plastic.
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