Although not against the ban, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's estranged cousin Raj Thackeray has opposed hefty fine being imposed on common man for violating the ban on single-use plastic and thermocol.
Launching a broadside on MNS chief Raj Thackeray, environment minister Ramdas Kadam said that manufacturers and retailers who were opposing the ban on the use of plastic had failed to comply despite having adequate notice.
Although not against the ban, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's estranged cousin Raj Thackeray has opposed hefty fine being imposed on common man for violating the ban on single-use plastic and thermocol. The idea was helmed by Uddhav's elder son and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray.
"Why is Raj Thackeray afraid of his nephew? Is he opposing the decision just because it has been helmed by Aaditya Thackeray," questioned Kadam. The senior Shiv Sena leader charged that it was Raj's "single-point agenda to oppose Aaditya."
"Decision on the plastic ban was not taken overnight like demonetisation. The announcement to ban plastic from Gudi Padwa was made on September 6 last year, the Bombay High Court extended the time limit by another three months. People should have looked for alternatives by now," said Kadam, when asked about complaints about huge job loss in the plastic manufacturing sector following the ban.
Kadam said that production and use of non-woven polythene bags were banned and manufacturers were warned of action. The state will also give a three-month breather to manufacturers of bakery products and retail packagers to allow them to look for eco-friendly substitute of plastic.
Justifying the steep fine of Rs 5,000 for the first violation, Rs 10,000 for the second, and up to Rs 25,000 and three-month imprisonment for repeated violations, he added 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 with a request to allow usage of thermocol during Ganpati utsav, adding 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 interest of the environment and public health. Moreover, many individuals, organisations, and NGOs had supported the ban.
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