Rs 6,000 fines for use of plastic items

Rajahmundry: Municipal corporation authorities on Tuesday carried out a surprise inspection at several shops and issued 11 challans while imposing fine amounting to  Rs 6,000 for use of the banned plastic material in the city.

As part of their efforts to see that the ban imposed on plastic carry bags and other material from August 15 in the city is implemented, the authorities formed special teams who conducted a surprise inspection of establishments to check whether they were complying with the ban orders.

The teams inspected wholesale shops, cloth showrooms, meat shops, eateries, and other places. They found that some establishments continue using plastic material despite the ban.

Municipal commissioner Sumit Kumar Gandhi, in a release issued here, appreciated the people for cooperating with the civic authorities in enforcing the ban on plastic products to keep the city clean and protect the environment.

He urged those who were still reluctant to change their habit of using plastic bags to give up its use and cooperate with the civic authorities to implement the ban order totally.

He said that ban order on use of plastic carry bags, glasses, and other material was also effective during the mass free meal provided to mark various occasions in the city.