CM tells 15 civic chiefs to kick plastic

In fact, the BMC’s circular dated August 8, which doubles as a ready reckoner for civic officials implementing the ban on bags less than 20 microns thick, received special mention at the meeting, according to an official present at the gathering. The circular, which is both exhaustive and comprehensive, explains the legalities involved for prosecuting offenders as well.

Among the municipal commissioners present at the meeting were those of Pune, Amravati, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nanded and Sangli. Though the ban on plastic has already been implemented in Nashik and Pune, the civic chiefs of both cities have been asked to follow the BMC’s plan.

As per the programme, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will take action against manufacturers, who continue to make bags less than 20 microns thick while the BMC will monitor distributors and suppliers, who will be raided and fined for any violations. The civic Octroi Department, on the other hand, will check the entry of banned bags into the cities. The last point on the agenda is an awareness campaign.

According to the circular, punitive agaion can be taken under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, (EPA) and the BMC Act, 1888. Accordingly, the manufacture, possession and usage of plastic bags thinner than 20 microns has been made a cognizable offence under the EPA and a police case can be filed against offenders. The state government has therefore empowered civic officials to prosecute offenders under the act.

“By clarifying the action that can be initiated, the circular has educated civic officials on effective ways to implement the ban,” says Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Chandrashekar Rokde. He adds: We have also modified the licence conditions under Sections 390 and 394 of BMC Act to prohibit the manufacture, posession and usage of plastic bags below 20 microns.” Henceforth, even manufacturers who do not possess factory licences under the abovementioned sections of the BMC Act can be prosecuted, he explains.

With regard to action to be taken by the civic Octroi Department, the cirular states that the entry of these bags should be banned and the joint municipal commissioner of the city should issue the neccesary instructions.

Remarks Rokde: “The circular was issued by the BMC keeping in mind the problems arising out of the use of polythene plastic, which is more severe in Mumbai as it is an island city with a huge population. Hence the corporation had the legalities cleared first, so that civic officials can take action against errant citizens.