17 shops in Jamshedpur penalised for flouting plastic rule

JAMSHEDPUR: The Jugsalai Municipal Council (JMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 10,900 on 17 shops this week for using banned plastic items. Surprise checking is being undertaken on a daily basis on the direction of SDM (Dhalbhum), Piyush Sinha.
According to the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) rules of 2021, manufacture, stocking, distribution, import and sale of single-use plastic, including expanded polystyrene commodities are banned, said the SDM, in a press communique.Further, with effect from January 1, 2023, the government has banned polythene bags under 120 microns. The Union ministry of environment forest and climate change had earlier banned polythene bags under 75 microns in July 2022, but later it widened the limit to 120 microns.
Apart from seizing the banned items, the JMC officials also appealed to the traders and consumers to use biodegradable or compostable bags made of jute, cotton or paper for carrying items.
Eating food on thermocol plates is hazardous to health, would invite risk to lives, officials are explaining to the residents during their random visits for the search and seizure. The civic authorities have warned that along with the shopkeeper, users will also face action under relevant sections of the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) rules and Jharkhand Municipal Act, if found guilty of flouting rules. A cloth merchant at Dukhu market in Jugsalai said requesting anonymity that no trader/shopkeeper is keen on keeping plastic carry bags, but customers insist them to do so. "The jute and cotton carry bags are comparatively costlier hence several shopkeepers are reluctant to keep them," said the trader.
The Jamshedpur Thok Vastra Vikreta Sangh, president, Anil Modi, who is also the secretary of the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the chamber in December 2022, approached the state government with request for relaxation in the curb rules.
Citing the orders of the environment and climate change department of the Maharashtra government, the SCCI body claimed that the said state amended the plastic and thermocol products (manufacture, use, sale, transport and storage) notification of 2018, whereby bags made of non-woven polypropylene not less than 60gm per square meter have been permitted since December, 2022.
Further, plastic sheets less than 50 microns, if used for packaging purpose by the industries, is permitted in Maharashtra.
"Till such time the cost effective sustainable alternative to the banned items is found, the state government should make some relaxation to revive the lives of the people enormously hit by the blanket ban on the plastic items," Anil said, referring to the letter addressed to the CM in December.
Notably, the Jugsalai market is popular for hosting both wholesale and retail shops.