The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) has launched an intensive crackdown on single-use plastic, deploying special squads to raid multiple locations across the city. As part of this drive, authorities seized 25,000 kilograms of banned plastic from 13 wholesalers and took action against 64 small traders, collecting fines amounting to Rs 3.25 lakh and Rs 1.90 lakh respectively.
Strict Enforcement and Penalties
CSMC Commissioner Amol Yedge stated that even residents found using single-use plastic will face fines, signaling a stricter enforcement of the ban. The civic body is stepping up efforts to make the city free of single-use plastic by reaching out to every household and commercial establishment. The drive is being led by Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Nandkishor Bhombe and is being intensified on a war footing with a mix of enforcement and awareness campaigns.
Commitment to Behavioral Change
Yedge emphasized that the campaign is not a short-term initiative. "The administration will not step back until plastic usage stops and habits change significantly," he said. The focus is on achieving visible behavioral change among residents through sustained action.
Awareness and Community Engagement
As part of the initiative, large-scale awareness drives are being conducted in vegetable market areas, where civic teams engage directly with residents and traders. Instead of relying solely on punitive measures, the teams explain the environmental and health hazards of single-use plastic and promote the adoption of cloth and reusable bags.
Significant Results Achieved
The campaign has yielded significant results so far. The civic body has collected and disposed of nearly 80 to 85 lakh single-use plastic bags, estimated to have a market value of around Rs 45 lakh. All seized plastic is being scientifically processed at the Harsul Solid Waste Processing Centre, where it is shredded and later sent to cement factories as refuse-derived fuel (RDF), ensuring it is not reintroduced into circulation.
