Chennai: In a measure aimed at imposing stringent measures on commercial establishments that violated the ban on plastics, the State government warned of revoking the licenses of third-time offenders.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday directed the heads of various departments to take stern legal action against the violators.
The ban on plastic in Tamil Nadu came into force from January 1 this year after Mr. Palaniswami made a formal announcement in the Assembly last year.
Since the last few days, the enforcing officials raided hotels, restaurants, idly batter shops, provision stores and other commercial establishments and seized single use plastics that have been banned. They also warned of stringent action if they used the banned items.
Following this, several budget hotels and even mess in residential areas discontinued the use of silver pouches to parcel the food and they started using banana leaf and paper. As a result regular customers have been forced to bring their own cloth bags and even tiffin boxes to take home the side dishes like sambar, chutney, etc.
While reviewing the implementation of the ban in the State, Mr. Palaniswami reiterated the State government’s decision to crack down on the use of the banned single-use disposable plastic. Mr. Palaniswami while chairing a meeting of senior Ministers and officials, to review the measures taken by the government following the ban on single-use disposable plastic, instructed the officials to encourage the use of alternatives to plastic.
The meet also discussed the imposition of fine on violators and also the cancellation of licences to commercial establishments, which repeatedly violated the law. According to an official release here the Chief Minister appealed to the general public to cooperate with the State government’s initiative to protect the environment from the ill-effects of plastic by ensuring a ‘plastic-free Tamil Nadu.’
Forest Minister Dindigul C. Sreenivasan, School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani, Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar, Higher Education Minister K.P. Anbalagan, Environment Minister K.C. Karuppannan, Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar, Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan and senior officials participated in the meeting.
