Plastic ban in Maharashtra: First-time offenders will have to cough up ₹5,000 as fine from June 24

Law panel defers proposal to reduce fine; 294 BMC inspectors trained to act against violators

From Sunday, be prepared to pay a fine of ₹5,000 for carrying any plastic item.

People carrying plastic bags in Mumbai. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT File Photo)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) last week tabled a proposal to keep the fine between ₹200 and ₹1,000, with different amount for shops in malls, shopkeepers, street vendors, hotels, restaurants and citizens. The law committee of the civic body, however, deferred the proposal, after principal secretary of the state environment department Anil Diggikar expressed reservations over it. BMC can put forth the proposal again, but a senior civic official said it is unlikely.

Caught flouting the norm the second time, the fine will be ₹10,000, while third-time offenders will have to pay ₹25,000. There is also a provision for imprisonment of repeat offenders.

“If citizens are unable to pay the fine on the spot or refuse to do so, a prosecution notice or offence sheet will be registered,” said Nidhi Chaudhary, deputy municipal commissioner.

The civic body has trained 249 inspectors from the civic body’s market and licence department to take action against violators. Chaudhary said, “The inspectors will be given uniforms with plastic ban squad written on it, and an authorisation letter from BMC. If citizens have any doubts about the inspectors, they can cross-check their names with the list uploaded on the MCGM website.”

The civic body has replaced plastic water bottles with glasses in meetings, security guards at all entrances are checking visitors for plastic bags and other banned material.