Maharashtra plastic ban: Focus on options, not slapping fines, says BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) stepped into the state-wide ban on plastic on day one with trepidation, focusing on creating awareness instead of imposing penalty. Civic inspectors visited markets and tried to convince vendors to get rid of banned items. This will be the modus operandi on day two too, say officials.

Nidhi Chaudhari, deputy municipal commissioner (Special) said that there will be no action against anyone on the first two days; the civic body will start imposing penalties only start from Monday. She stressed that BMC is not interested in imposing fines.

On Saturday, 249 officials from BMC's Market, Licence and Shop and Establishment departments were to the headquarters for briefing about the plan of action. "We have been asked to not take action on first two days.
We will, instead, encourage people to shift to alternatives to banned plastics," said one of the inspectors.

They interacted with vendors at Mahatma Phule Market. "Shopkeepers were reluctant to look for alternatives, saying they were not easily available," said an inspector. On day 2, the officials will visit larger shops and establishments. "We will concentrate on shops with higher footfall, such as malls and shopping complexes," said the inspector.

Side-by-side, collection of banned items will continue at BMC's 37 waste segregation centres across 24 wards. "Those who could not deposit banned products still have time," said Chaudhary. She added that the toll free (1800-222-357) number will continue to work for collection of banned items.