Mumbai: BMC, MPCB to jointly crack down on use of plastic from today

Plastic items on display at a shop in Fort on June 1, 2022. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will start cracking down on the use of prohibited plastic products from today. Five-member teams comprising civic officials, police officers and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) personnel will make rounds in every ward to ensure malls, shops, stockists and hawkers aren't using proscribed plastic items.

Common citizens will be let off with a warning initially, but strict action will be taken against them later.

According to a state government notification dated March 23, 2018, the BMC can take action against citizens who are using prohibited plastic and thermocol. A civic official said, "The fines are on the higher side. There is provision for fining first-time offenders R5,000, second-time offenders R15,000 and third-time offenders Rs 25,000. There is the provision of three-month imprisonment for the latter."

He added, "Teams of five comprising cops and MPCB staff have already been formed in each ward,"

According to the notification, single-use plastic items such as carry bags, plates, spoons, cups and cups, as well as thermocol, are banned.

The BMC had stopped taking action against offenders during the pandemic. Since July 2022, the civic body sized 5,371 kg of plastic and collected R82.50 lakh in fines.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sanjog Kabre told mid-day, "Taking action against plastic is a routine process. But from Monday, our team will be accompanied by MPCB officials."