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From the plastic ban, corporation of Chennai earns Rs 2.13 lakhs

Posted on: 18/Jun/2019 10:20:38 AM
It has been 6 months from January since the ban on plastics came into existence in the state of Tamil Nadu.  For the first time since January, on Monday, 17th June, Corporation of Chennai began penalizing the violators. Important information that has come out is the corporation raided as many as 1831 shops located in as many as 153 places. An amount of Rs 2.13 lakhs has been collected now as fine amount.  In addition to this, as many as 57 notices have been issued by the corporation to the shop owners. In this raid, 832 kg of plastic was seized by the officials of the corporation.

Assistant engineer of the corporation, Mr. Selvanayagam revealed that in Koyambedu market, 1 godown and 2 shops were locked and each was fined Rs 25000. Likewise in the Perungudi zone, as many as 77 shops were fined for an amount of Rs 39100 and officials seized 21 kg of plastic and it was the highest ever.

It should be noted that in Madhavaram as many as 68 shops were fined Rs 29100 and 15 kg of plastic was seized. In addition to this, in Kodambakkam, 234 shops were fined Rs 27000 and 24 of plastic were seized. It is very clear from the February month GO that Rs 2 lakh is the fine amount for manufacture of banned plastic item and Rs 50,000 is the fine for trading, retailing, selling and distributing. For commercial users the fine is Rs 25000 and domestic offenders could be fined Rs 500 for the first time and Rs 1000 for subsequent violations.

It is important to mention that commercial establishments would be focused first and then retail shops would be penalized. It was pointed out by health officer of the corporation that the supply must be cut first and hence the department would focus on those storing plastic. He then added that teams have been formed and inspection would be done every day. Receipts are being issued for the penalties imposed now.

Mr. P. Madhusudhan Reddy, corporation deputy commissioner (health), spoke about how the move would act as barrier. He then hinted about creating awareness and promoting alternate products to plastics and how workshops would be held for these purposes.  It must be noted that since 1st January about 250 metric tonnes of plastic items were seized and sent to private pyrolysis plants.

It was later mentioned by a social activist Mr. Umanath that imposing fines would not help as all the establishments would offer bribe after forming a syndicate. He then threw light on how in the beginning many people ordered for alternative products but after a month it faded away. It is now said that proper alternative for plastic must be present and the government must come out with that alternative.