Mumbai plastic ban losing momentum

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed over 300 inspectors who were assigned to visit the various shops and hawkers to fine them for using single-use plastic materials. The plastic ban was implemented on June 23 last year and till May 31 this year, the BMC has collected Rs 3.18 crore as fine from the offenders. The inspectors visited a total of 1.68 lakh shops and hawkers seizing 60,886 kg of plastic.

However, the citizens feel that the zest of the civic body taking action against the offenders has lost its pace in last couple of months. Some allege that the inspectors visit roadside shops and hawkers often and the shopping malls are exempted from these surprise visit checks.

The BMC collects penalty amount ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 along with a three-month jail term.

However, there are allegations that the visits by the inspectors and raids to seize the plastic have decreased in last few months can be attributed to the BMC’s failure to re-cycle the already collected plastic. The plastic the BMC has seized is stored in its godown, which is supposed to be re-cycled by the companies/registered recyclers empanelled by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

The BMC in the past few months have floated tenders twice to recycle the collected plastic but have received poor response. Speaking on plastic ban activist Anil Galgali said, “The ban is required to avoid environment hazards and issues like waterlogging as the waste plastic blocks the drains. But, the momentum seems to have lost. Now-a-days plastic carry bags are available in markets with hawkers. The inspectors should continue the raids to uphold the ban.”