BMC rules out action on people with plastic bags

Mumbai: Dismissing reports of action being initiated against people for carrying plastic bags, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has clarified that the plastic ban would only be implemented from June as per the state government orders. However, the action would continue against plastic carry bags of under 50 microns thickness, which have already been banned.

After the state announced the plastic ban starting from Gudi Padwa, messages on social media about the civic body penalising citizens for using plastic bags with images of receipts of fine being charged are being circulated.

However, a senior civic official said no such action has been initiated yet. “The state has decided to give an extension of two months to people for disposing off the banned plastic items. Hence, we cannot start any punitive action against the offenders till June 23,” said the official.

According to the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification, 2018 on March 23, the government had banned manufacture, usage, storage, distribution, wholesale or retail sale, import and transportation of all kinds of plastic bags and small PET and PETE bottles having capacity of less than half litre, across the state.

The state also declared a fine of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for first and second time offence. A third-time offender will be fined Rs 25,000 and three months’ jail time.

However, the action would continue against the use of plastic carry bags of thickness under 50 microns, said the BMC official.