Mumbai: Mumbai Municipal Corporation Cracks Down On Plastic Use: Seizes 593 kg In 5 Days And Collects Rs 25 Lakh In Fines

Mumbai, 26th August 2023: Tightening the screws on the plastic ban in the city, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has seized 593 kg of plastic in the last five days. In its raid at 268 places, the corporation has collected a staggering sum of Rs 25 lakh from the fine. The maximum amount of plastic was seized from the Chembur, Govandi, Naigaon, Dadar, and Mahim areas. However, Mumbai Municipal Corporation informed that in areas like Dadar and Govandi, crackdown operations on plastic bans could not be initiated due to a lack of necessary manpower.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation intensified its anti-plastic campaign in coordination with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) from Monday. The team includes the employees of the MPCB along with the departmental-level employees of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Similarly, an employee from the police force accompanied them in their campaign.

Earlier, the state government had begun its anti-plastic campaign before the Corona pandemic, but two years of Corona halted the entire campaign. Now, with the renewed impetus from the MPCB, the Municipal Corporation is again in action mode. Disciplinary action has been taken against vendors, small shop owners, market sellers, mall owners, etc. who are found using plastic bags less than 50 microns thick.

Plastic bags, especially those with a length smaller than 50 microns, are hazardous for the environment. These bags do not easily decompose in the environment and are the reasons behind multiple catastrophic events in the city. These plastic bags cause waterlogging in low-lying areas during monsoons, which was the main reason behind Mumbai’s 2005 overflow. Similarly, these plastic bags are also hazardous for our health.

According to the information received, Mumbai Municipal Corporation has raided 6 thousand 18 places in Mumbai city and suburbs in the last five days, from August 21 to 25. It includes shopkeepers, hawkers, and other establishments. Surprisingly, the corporation, in its action against 268 people these days, has collected a fine of Rs 25 lakh. On August 25, 1099 places were raided in a single day, and 107 kg of plastic was seized.

If prohibited plastic is found, the penalty is Rs 5,000 for the first offence, Rs 10,000 for the second offence, Rs 25,000, and 3 months of imprisonment for the third offence.