Plastic Ban in Maharashtra 2018: BMC Plans to Cut Down Fine Amount From Rs 5, 000 to Rs 200 For General Public

Mumbai, June 19: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will start imposing fines on general public, shops and establishments from June 23, if they are found using prohibited plastic bags and other banned items. While the civic body had decided to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 to first-time offenders, it is reportedly planning to slash the fine money from Rs 5, 000 to Rs 200 as the earlier fine amount was protested by common man.

According to a news report in The Times of India, Nidhi Choudhari, nodal officer of Plastic-free Mumbai campaign and also the Deputy Municipal Commissioner, said that they understand that penalties need to be within the affordable range. Therefore, it is now proposed to levy Rs 200 on a first-time defaulter, Rs 500 the second time and Rs 25,000 the third time. There is also a provision of imprisonment up to three months for a repeat offender.

However, she further said, "The final decision will be taken by the law-committee, following the decision, the penalties would be imposed from June 23." Meanwhile, she also cleared that the fine merger money will not be for the manufacturers or shops and establishments as they will continue to Pay Rs 5,000 and more if found violating the new rule on the plastic ban.

BMC is hosting various campaigns and public awareness programmes to make Mumbai plastic-free. To make the ban successful, it will host an exhibition at the National Sports Club of Mumbai to educate and bring awareness about the new ban introduced by the Maharashtra government. In the event, Bollywood superstars like Ajay Devgan and Kajol will be called for interaction with the general audience to encourage them to reduce the use of plastic in their daily life. The exhibition will be organised from June 22 to June 24 and various manufacturers who produce bio-degradable items as a replacement for plastic have been invited.

The state government implemented a blanket ban on the single-use of plastic from April this year. The ban was introduced after Yuva Sena Chief Aditya Thackeray requested the government to bring the prohibition, following the increasing use of plastic which is endangering marine life. Aditya on several occasions was also seen with Samaritans like Afroz Shah and several others activists in their beach cleaning drive.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 19, 2018 11:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).