MC Anantnag acts tough against end users of single use plastic

Imposes fine on end-users of SUP; Recovers fine of Rs 5000, seizes 27 Kg plastic material

ANANTNAG, SEPTEMBER 22: In a move to save environment from the menace of plastic pollution, Anantnag Municipal Committee (AMC) on Thursday imposed fine of Rs 100 each on more-than 50 persons after they were found carrying polythene bags.

The AMC started imposing heavy fines on the end-user of single-use plastic following its usage banned across the country and guidelines issued by Centre asking states to ban the use of ‘single-use plastic’ from July 1, 2022.

To implement the guidelines in letter and spirit, the AMC has decided to impose fines on all users, including retailers, restaurants, and end consumers. Traders, hoteliers, and restaurateurs in the city claimed they had already stopped using such plastic. However, small retailers still continue to use it.

Around Rs 5000 fine was recovered from violators and 27 kg of plastic material was also seized. Officials claimed that they have campaigned adequately in the past few months before launching the drive.

Single-use plastic refers to plastic materials that are used only once and are discarded after their immediate use, used extensively by local eateries. Single-use plastic constitutes the highest share of plastic manufactured and used, which ranges from packaging, bottles, polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, trash bags, etc.

The ministry of environment, forest, and climate change notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, in August last year, which mandates a ban on manufacturing, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastic items.

Er.Hilal Ahmad Shah President Municipal Council Anantnag said the notification of a complete ban on single-use plastic was widely publicized in the last few months. “The ban on single-use plastic was already in place in Anantnag while till the end of last month, we carried out awareness campaigns informing citizens and traders about the complete ban”, he added.

He further said that an extensive campaign was carried out during the SUP campaign and now, they will go all out in collecting fines from the offenders, which will include end-users, who will be found using any article from the banned list.