Banned plastics seized, Rs 23K fines collected in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 04, 2019: Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) personnel, carried out raids on shops and hotels in Mangaluru and seized 113 kg of banned plastic on September 3, Tuesday.

Three official teams raided shops in Central Market, Kadri, Shivabagh and Kottara Chowki areas. Rs 22,850 was collected in fines from the law violators, said MCC Environment Engineer Madhu S Manohar.

The State Level Committee (SLC) constituted as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to look into the implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in Karnataka had directed government authorities to strictly implement the plastic ban notification in the State, by resorting to fines from September 1.

Following the notification, the MCC had constituted four teams for the implementation of the ban from September 1.

NGT order : In its order on August 27, 2019, NGT had said the jurisdiction of the ban covers schools, colleges, universities, commercial establishments, health care establishments, apartments, houses, street vending zones, shops, industries, government offices and quarters, court premises and quarters, marriage halls/choultries, airports, urban local bodies.

It may be recalled that the state government, through a Gazette notification on March 11, 2016, had banned the manufacture and use of plastic carry bags, banners, buntings, flex, flags, plates, water pot, spoons, kling films dining table sheets and items made up of thermocoal.

The government, through an order on July 11, 2017, had banned the use of plastic in temples and other religious places too. Later, the government banned the use of plastic in government meetings and functions in its order on July 2, 2019.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 had also emphasised on the ban of single use plastic items. Even after the government order was passed, it was not implemented effectively.

Hence, the NGT urged the authorities to implement it effectively from September 1.

According to MCC officials, each team will conduct at least three raids a week, to implement effectively ban on plastic in Mangaluru.