Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation rises from slumber, plans to again implement plastic ban

Once again the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has announced ban on usage of plastic bags. The civic body once again going to come down heavily on people, traders found flouting the rule. The civic body says it had successfully launched the drive in June 2018, but eventually people started once again gaining access to banned plastic materials.

"We want to tell the people that the drive launched last still is effective, and we will seize the banned plastic if found in use by people or traders. Plastic bags below 50 micron thickness is not allowed within the AMC limit, one can not sell, manufacture and use it. There are several units where the banned items are being consumed largely. We are going levy heavy fines to the sellers," said Paresh Patel, chairman of the solid waste and health committee.

Last year the civic body had banned plastic cups, water pouches and polythene bags. After that any restaurants and food chains have now switched over to paper glasses and bags. However, the ban was effective only for two months and people slowly started falling back on plastic-made goods, said the civic body.

The civic body said it has decided to once again fine people flouting the ban as the dumping grounds are seeing the rise in plastic waste.