The MNS, headed by Raj Thackeray, has opposed the penalties for violating the ban on disposable, single-use plastic and thermocol
Launching a broadside at MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam on Monday said that manufacturers and retailers who were opposing the ban on the use of plastic had failed to comply with the order despite being given adequate notice.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is headed by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's estranged cousin Raj, has opposed the penalties for violating the ban on disposable, single-use plastic and thermocol. The idea was pushed by Uddhav's elder son and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray.
"I would first ask Raj Thackeray why he is afraid of his nephew? Is he opposing the decision just because it has been helmed by Aaditya Thackeray?... if any politician did not know about the ban, then it is their failure, why are they trying to put a spoke in the wheels to cover their failure?" Kadam, who is a minister in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' cabinet from Shiv Sena quota, questioned.
He was speaking to the media on Monday, which was the third day of the plastic ban. The senior Shiv Sena leader charged that like his earlier opposition to Uddhav, it was Raj's "single-point agenda to oppose Aaditya."
"The plastic ban decision was not taken overnight like demonetisation. The announcement to ban plastic from Gudi Padwa was made on September 6 last year and the court too extended the time limit by another three months... they should have looked for alternatives," said Kadam when asked about complaints about job losses in the plastic manufacturing sector.
Justifying the steep fines of Rs 5,000 for the first violation and up to Rs 25,000 and three months in jail for subsequent offences, the minister said that the previous fines of Rs 500 for the use of plastic bags below 50 microns was trivial and hence failed to ensure compliance.
Stating that the authorities would not cause inconvenience to the common man, Kadam said he had received a memorandum from Ganesh mandals requesting that the use of thermocol during the Ganpati utsav be allowed and added that it would be tabled before the empowered committee of ministers.
Calling on end-users and consumers to "change their way of thinking," Kadam said the ban was in the interests of the environment and public health. Moreover, many individuals, organisations and NGOs had supported the ban.
However, MNS spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande said this was an attempt by Kadam to show his sycophancy towards his party leadership. "We are not opposing the ban, but the steep fines for violations," he added.
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 "BMC's plastic ban inspecting squad at a shop in Mumbai's Chembur on Sunday")
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