Navi Mumbai: Intensifying its efforts to enforce the plastic ban, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has launched a series of special drives ahead of the festive season. Over the past week, civic teams have seized nearly 400 kg of banned plastic across the city.
NMMC’s flying squads have been conducting surprise inspections to curb the illegal use of plastic. The Zone 1 team confiscated 300 kg, while the Zone 2 team intercepted 100 kg of plastic bags being transported on a two-wheeler at Airoli Toll Naka on March 27, following a tip-off. The vehicle was also impounded.
The crackdown continued on March 28, with another 40 kg of plastic seized in Mahape from an electric two-wheeler. Several businesses were also penalized for violating the ban. Ramdev Sweets in Digha and New Prem Sweets in Ghansoli were fined Rs 5,000 each, while Ajay Fruit Vendor in Airoli and Bismillah Catering in Sector 19 faced similar fines, with additional plastic confiscated.
On March 31, plastic bags were seized from Ghansoli’s Shivaji Lake and Vashi’s Sector 7, leading to further fines. The operation extended to April 1, when a TVS scooter rider was caught transporting plastic bags at Airoli Toll Naka and fined Rs 5,000.
NMMC has reiterated that these measures are not just about imposing fines but about protecting the environment and public health. The civic body urges residents to switch to eco-friendly alternatives like cloth bags and support the city’s sustainability initiatives.
