Generation of plastic

Mumbai: If the state government has its way, citizens who use thin plastic carry bags could fined up to Rs 5,000. A second default will lighten the aam aadmi’s pocket by Rs 10,000 and a third violation will mean a fine of Rs 25,000 and a threemonth imprisonment.
“We found that the implementation of the ban has not been very encouraging and so are thinking of various new measures to make it more effective. We will soon be inviting objections and suggestions from the public to incorporate certain new rules in the 2006 Act,’’ said Valsa Nair-Singh, secretary, environment.
The changes if any will be incorporated only after the general elections when the Model Code of Conduct ends.
Environmentalist Rishi Agarwal is very sceptical that it will work. “I am not against it but the fines need to be realistic. There has to be some deterrence, otherwise people will not stop using it. But implementation is quite suspect. They could take a cue from the traffic police who have done a good job in deterring drunk driving,’’ he said.
Nair-Singh said one of the chief reasons for the failure was the inability to stop
the manufacture of plastic thinner than 50 microns. “Most of this variety of plastic comes from Gujarat where the act is not applicable,’’ she said. The BMC also does not stop the entry of the plastic at its octroi nakas. A senior civic official said most of the plastic comes via the train route. “If the BMC were to stop its entry at the naka it would ensure that it is not available in the city,’’ said the official.
Since 2006 the BMC has collected over Rs 1.5 crore in fines from 2,960 stockists, hawkers and seized nearly 96 metric tonnes of plastic. The seized plastic is shredded and used in the manufacture of plastic articles. The administration has deployed two vans, each armed with two policemen, two security guards, one inspector each from the licence, market and shops and establishment departments and a senior inspector.
“While one van has been permanently deployed outside the Ram Gopal industrial estate at Mulund where such plastic is manufactured, the other van moves across the city,’’ said the official. Though the act was modified in 2007 allowing the BMC to shut down manufacturing units so far not a single unit has been shut down by the civic body