Coimbatore: The state government has imposed a blanket ban on usage of one use plastic items starting from January 1 this year. Ever since the ban is in place, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation is acting tough on violators. In a bid to ensure that the rule is followed, various teams of officials from the civic body are conducting raids and fines are slapped on violators.
From January 1 till March 31, 13, 915 small, medium and large commercial establishments were visited. About 2,404-kilograms of plastic was seized by officials and Rs 5,19,360 was collected as fine from shops who were either found using or storing the banned plastic products.
From Monday onwards, officials of the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) have begun cracking the whip on commercial establishments in the city for storing or/ and using plastic products that are banned by the state government. A source from the civic body told DC that since Monday onwards, CCMC officials have formed teams who are conducting surprise raids across the 100 wards in the five zones of the Coimbatore corporation limit.
“During such raids fines are collected from commercial establishments who are found storing and/ or using one use plastic products that are banned by the state government. A majority of them are small shop owners.” an official who is part of one of the teams said. From Monday to Friday a total of 1,827 shops were visited, 671 banned plastic products were confiscated and fine of `2,94,250 was collected from violators.
When asked what the civic body plans to do with the confiscated plastic, an official told DC that the banned items will be sent to the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) head office located in town hall.
From there the same will be dispatched to a recycling factory where the products will be converted into materiel which will be used to lay roads.
Meanwhile, the public is also cautioned not to use any of the banned plastic products.
