Navi Mumbai: NMMC is intensifying efforts to curb the use of single-use plastic, especially plastic bags. Public awareness campaigns are underway promoting the use of eco-friendly alternatives like cloth and paper bags.

As part of this initiative, a four-day special inspection drive was carried out by the Zone II flying squad under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Dr Kailash Gaikwad. During this campaign, six business establishments were caught using banned plastic bags. Each was fined Rs 5,000, totalling Rs 30,000 in penalties, and 36.3 kilograms of plastic bags were seized.

On May 3, D.R. Bhanushali & Sons in Sector 1, Koparkhairane, were penalised, with 1 kg of plastic bags seized. Additional fines and seizures were carried out at Thorat Bandhu Kirana Stores, in sector 1, Airoli and Mahalaxmi Mart in sector 6.

On Maharashtra Day (May 1), the squad intercepted a two-wheeler at the Mulund-Airoli toll plaza transporting 30 kg of plastic bags from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai. The carrier, Rajesh Gupta, was fined Rs 5,000.

Earlier, on April 30, 1 kg of plastic bags was confiscated from Shivshakti Stores in Ghansoli village, and Puja Traders in Ghansoli was fined for possession of 500 grams of plastic bags.

NMMC has appealed to both citizens and traders to stop using plastic bags and adopt sustainable alternatives.