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Mumbai: Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has directed BMC to rigorously implement the ban on single-use plastic, such as carry bags, imposed in 2018 by the state govt. Civic officials said they were looking into restructuring the fines (see box) for effective implementation of the ban.
At a press meet after a review meeting with BMC officials on Friday, MPCB chairperson Siddhesh Kadam expressed helplessness over the influx of plastic items into the state, while pointing out that neighbouring states have different rules on the manufacture of plastic products. He said whenever plastic items manufactured outside Maharashtra are seized, the state concerned is requested to take action against the manufacturer(s). He said there are fewer plastic items being produced in Maharashtra.
BMC recovered Rs 41.7 lakh in fines for plastic use from Jan 1-Dec 17, 2024. “Though action is carried out regularly, we face difficulty in taking action against hawkers because they don’t have the money to pay the fine. The only option is prosecution, which is not an easy task given that they are not owners of permanent establishments. So, we are looking into restructuring the fines. After restructuring them, we can send the proposal to the state govt for approval,” said a civic official.
BMC had earlier planned to form a five-member team in every ward to monitor implementation of the ban.
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