After three months of relaxing plastic ban, Maha govt implies strict vigilance on plastic users from Oct 1

Mumbai, October 1: With the three month liability on using plastic ban nears end, the Maharashtra government has made its vigilance strong and robust. Resurfacing the use of plastic bag, the Maharashtra Environment Department has decided to take strict actions against those carrying banned plastic from October 1.

 

The direction comes as the deadline for creating a buy-back mechanism for collection of plastic used by retailers as well as in multi-layered and tetra packaging ended on Sunday. Member Secretary of MPCB, E Ravendiran, held a meeting Saturday and interacted with department officials across the state through video conferencing. He reviewed the implementation of the plastic ban.

The MPCB official said that they have instructed their officials to take action against all the violators. He said retailers are expected to print the manufacturers name, type and buy-back price on the plastic used by them and also to put in place a mechanism for collection of plastic and to ensure recycling. The MPCB will keep its vigil over the implementation of guidelines issued by it.

In case of multi-layered and tetra packaging, the manufacturers or brand owners or producers need to submit the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) plan, which involves modalities of a waste collection system, to the Urban Development department for approval. But the MPCB has not received a single approval letter so far.

The MPCB has decided to hold region wise inter-departmental coordination meetings with all officers empowered to take action as per the notification.

The meetings will be chaired by Maharashtra Minister for Environment Ramdas Kadam reviewed the meeting of his department officials where he told them to take strict actions against those who are violating the plastic ban norms. The minister said that this months, the three month deadline given to plastic sellers will end. He further added, "In the review meeting, it was also revealed that the 99 per cent plastic traders and shopkeepers had failed to comply to the government decree. Moreover, the plastic ban was not successfully implemented by local authorities. They should implement state government decisions in letter and spirit."

He added that people also need to be more vigilant. "The plastic ban policy was introduced in public interest, to protect the environment. So, the citizens themselves should proactively discourage the use of banned plastic. They should carry cotton and bio-degradable bags when they go grocery shopping. We will start the campaign against plastic use again," the minister added.

Apart from the MPCB and Environment department, officials from other departments are also empowered to take action against violators. The officials from the Environment department said that dairies are yet to put in place a buy-back mechanism for milk pouches.