Citizens, traders won’t be harassed under guise of plastic ban, assures Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam
Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam speaking at the BMC Exhibition on alternatives to plastic today
As Maharashtra government readies to enforce the ban on a variety of plastic items from tomorrow, Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam on Friday said errant manufacturers will face a strong action, but common people and small traders will not be harassed.
He was speaking to reporters earlier today after a review meeting with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officials.
Must Read – Maharashtra Plastic Ban: Do’s and Don’ts from June 23
On March 23, the state government imposed a ban on manufacturing, use, sale, distribution, and storage of plastic materials such as one-time-use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and thermocol items.
The government gave three months for the disposal of existing stocks.
An extensive awareness campaign will be carried out in the next eight days to inform about banned items, Kadam said.
“We will ensure that common people and small traders are not harassed. But strict action will be taken again plastic manufacturers (if they break the law),” the senior Shiv Sena minister said.
However, there will be no relaxation in fine, he said.
The fine for the first-time and second-time offenders will be Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively. A third violation will attract a fine of Rs 25,000 and a jail term for three months.
Kadam reiterated that 80 percent of banned plastic items are manufactured in Gujarat and smuggled to Maharashtra.
“Anybody caught bringing in banned plastic goods will be imprisoned for three months,” he said.
The ban will mostly hit jobs in the plastic sector in Gujarat, he said, adding “we will find alternative jobs for those who are affected in Maharashtra.”
On the demand to exempt thermocol used for decorations during Ganesh Festival, Kadam said, “Some Maharashtrian youths met me and requested that they be allowed to use thermocol items in the festival this year as they had already purchased these items.”
The empowered committee of the government, dealing with the ban, will discuss this issue and an exemption might be given if Ganesh Mandals give an undertaking that these items will be later handed over to the municipal corporation for disposal, he said.
Retail packaging companies have been given an extension of three months to submit an undertaking over recycling of plastic materials, he said.
“Once they give the affidavit, their proposals will be forwarded to the empowered committee which will consider exempting them from the ban,” the minister said.
Kadam said that 1,200 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in Maharashtra everyday.
“Fish and other marine life is threatened by plastic. Plastic is found in nullahs. The city was flooded in the past due to plastic (which chokes nullahs). Plastic is also responsible for emission of sulphur gas, which is carcinogenic.
“If the next generation is to be saved, plastic has to be banned. Seventeen states have already banned it and we are the 18th,” the minister said.
Kadam, along with BMC chief Ajoy Mehta, Yuva Sena President Aaditya Thackeray, actors Ajay Devgn & Kajol and others also participated in the BMC’s exhibition on ‘alternatives to plastic’ at NSCI, Worli today.
The exhibition was a huge success and saw massive participation from the public.
Exhibition on #PlasticAternatives began with huge participation from citizens
Please visit BMC Exhibition in NSCI Worli tomorrow & day after tomorrow 23-24th June
Visit & be a part of #quitplasticmovement
Help #beatplasticpolution pic.twitter.com/avmhb5umHm— Nidhi Choudhari (@nidhichoudhari) June 22, 2018
With agency inputs
