Plastic ban draft ready, fine up to Rs 15,000

You will have to pay a heavy fine for carrying thin plastic bags less than 50 microns thick in the state.

You will have to pay a heavy fine for carrying thin plastic bags less than 50 microns thick in the state.

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You can be levied a fine in the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 for the first offence. A repeated second offence can lead to a fine up to Rs 25,000 and a third offence fine up to Rs 50,000, along with three months’ imprisonment.

The state’s environment department has finalised its draft to amend the Maharashtra Plastic Carry Bags Management and Usage Rules. The new draft pins responsibility on the end user for carrying thin non-recyclable plastic.

As reported by Hindustan Times this week, the state government also gave similar recommendations to the Centre to amend its Act to make way for penalty on the consumers.

So far, only stockist, manufacturers, retailers could be held punishable under the law. Now, end user along with others will be held responsible. The amendment was done to ensure the law was implemented thoroughly.

The municipal commissioner will be empowered to implement the Act and enforce penalty. He can appoint any officer subordinate to him for this duty.

“The draft will be put up for public comments within a week,” said environment secretary Valsa Nair Singh.

The environment department held a meeting with the civic body and other stakeholders on Thursday to finalise the draft.