Mumbai, June 28: A panipuri vendor has reportedly been fined by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for using plastic gloves on Tuesday. The vendor was at Lower Parel’s High Street Phoenix Mall and has been identified as Pawan Jaimangal Rajbhar. He was allegedly fined Rs. 5, 000. On one end the Food Safety Commission is taking steps and appealing to eateries, especially the panipuri vendors, to wear hand-gloves to ensure hygienic food is served to their customers. However, following the action against the pani-puri vendor, vendors are under the fear that their safety measure will invite action against them. The Maharashtra state implemented a blanket ban on single-use plastic from April.

Miffed over the action, Harish Mohite, the manager of Trupti Sweets, which has the pani-puri stall, was quoted in a news report as saying, "The squad suddenly arrived and demanded a fine as we were using gloves. We tried to explain to them that customers argue if we don’t use them, but they were not ready to understand. We have been using gloves for hygiene and the safety of our customers for nine years since we started out here. How are we at fault then?"

The squad also reportedly seized a huge amount of plastic from the mall.

Nidhi Choudhari, the deputy municipal commissioner (DMC) and nodal officer of plastic management, stated that she would inquire with the officers. Besides this, she said, "He must have been fined for using plastic cutlery and not for gloves. If he was fined for gloves, ask him to prove it, and I will ensure reimbursement."

To make the plastic ban successful successfully, BMC has initiated action against offenders. For using single-use plastic, BMC now imposes fine of Rs. 5,000 on the first-time offenders. Second-time offenders have to pay Rs. 10,000 and third-time offenders have to pay Rs. 25, 000. In the latest development, to provide relief to retailers, the Environment Minister has declared relaxation in the plastic ban. After the decision, now retailers can use plastic packaging to sell loose grocery items like ghee, rice, sugar and other products.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2018 05:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).