Plastic ban can be effective only through frequent raids: CM

According to officials who attended the meeting, the CM enquired about the steps taken to prevent the usage of plastics and the total fine collected from traders who used and sold single-use plastic covers.

Environment Secretary Shambhu Kallolikar, who is the nodal officer for implementing the ban, explained the steps taken in the last six months to Palaniswami. He also said that the local bodies were carrying out frequent raids to prevent usage of plastic bags.

Palaniswami had instructed the Municipal Administration department to carry out surprise raids and to check the usage of plastics in commercial establishments.

He also said that Tamil Nadu was the first state in the country to enforce a blanket ban on single use plastics, adding that the ban would be effective only if officials carried out frequent raids.

Stating that the State government has strictly implemented the ban, Municipal Administration department officials said, “In the last six months, 820.5 metric tonnes of banned plastic covers were seized and a total of Rs 1.58 crore has been collected as fine from commercial enterprises, who had violated the ban.”

Palaniswami had announced the measure in the State Assembly on June 5 last year, following which a Government Order (GO) towards this effect was passed on June 25. However, there are reports that the ban on plastics was not implemented properly.