Drive against plastic: Jugsalai Municipal Council collects Rs 1800 as fines

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Oct 15: The Jugsalai Municipal Council on Wednesday intensified its campaign against the use of banned single-use plastic and public encroachment, conducting a surprise inspection in several market areas and collecting a fine of ?1,800 from violators.

Acting on the directions of Executive Officer  Sandeep Paswan, municipal teams conducted raids across Station Road, Chowk Bazaar, and Dharamshala Road under the Jugsalai Municipal Council jurisdiction. The action targeted street vendors, flower sellers, and retail shopkeepers found using or selling plastic carry bags below the prescribed thickness limit of 120 microns.

Alongside the plastic crackdown, the team also took strict action against those encroaching on public roads and drains by keeping shop goods or construction and demolition (C&D) waste on the roadside. All violators were issued stern warnings and instructed to remove such encroachments immediately.

According to officials, the campaign was part of the Council’s continued enforcement of the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, under which the manufacture, import, storage, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastic items—including polystyrene and thermocol products—has been prohibited since July 1, 2022.

Furthermore, the rules specify that from January 1, 2023, plastic carry bags and related products below 120 microns in thickness are strictly banned, and violations attract both financial penalties and legal action under the Plastic Waste Management Rules and the Municipal Corporation Act.

Items banned under the notification include ear buds with plastic sticks, balloon sticks, candy sticks, plastic flags, thermocol decorative items, cutlery (plates, cups, forks, spoons, knives, trays), straws, wrapping films, and banners less than 100 microns thick.

Issuing a public appeal, the Jugsalai Municipal Council urged citizens and traders to adopt eco-friendly alternatives such as jute, cloth, or paper bags. The Council also cautioned against eating food on thermocol plates and bowls, citing health hazards, including cancer risks, and encouraged the use of traditional sal leaf plates and bowls instead.

The Council further instructed shopkeepers in possession of banned plastic materials to voluntarily surrender them at the Municipal office to avoid penal action and to support the government’s “Plastic-Free Jugsalai” campaign.

The enforcement team included City Manager Rajendra Kumar, Revenue Inspector Mohammad Naseem Akhtar, Rahul Das, Umesh Prajapati, Home Guard Santosh Yadav, and several municipal staff members.

The Jugsalai Municipal Council reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a cleaner, safer, and plastic-free environment, warning that future drives will be conducted regularly and with greater stringency.