Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Intensifies Crackdown on Banned Plastic Manufacturing
In a significant escalation of its environmental enforcement efforts, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has announced a decisive move to seal factories found manufacturing prohibited plastic items within the city limits. This groundbreaking decision marks a major shift in the civic body's strategy to combat plastic pollution at its source.
Committee Meeting Leads to Stronger Enforcement Measures
The pivotal decision was made during Monday's meeting of the health and solid waste management committee. Officials revealed that the AMC previously lacked clear legal provisions to take action against manufacturing units producing banned plastic, which had limited enforcement primarily to street vendors and retail shops. This regulatory gap has now been addressed with the new resolution.
Factory Inspections and Immediate Consequences
Under the new enforcement framework, AMC will conduct comprehensive inspections of factories operating within its jurisdiction. When inspectors discover stocks of banned plastic materials, the factory will face immediate sealing for a period of 15 days. This represents a substantial escalation from previous enforcement approaches that focused on end users rather than production sources.
Enhanced Penalties for Retail and Street Vendors
The committee also resolved to strengthen penalties for retail establishments. If authorities detect more than 100 kilograms of banned plastic at retail units, the premises will be sealed for 10 days. Additionally, AMC has introduced a structured, graded penalty system specifically for shops and street vendors using prohibited plastic:
- First offence: A fine of Rs 1,000
- Second offence: A fine of Rs 2,000
- Third violation: A fine of Rs 5,000
Historical Context of Ahmedabad's Plastic Ban
Ahmedabad has enforced a ban on plastic bags thinner than 120 microns since 2016, but until now, enforcement efforts had primarily targeted end users rather than manufacturing sources. This new approach represents a fundamental shift in strategy, addressing plastic pollution at the production level rather than just the consumption stage.
The municipal corporation's decision reflects growing concerns about environmental sustainability and public health impacts of plastic waste. By targeting manufacturing facilities directly, AMC aims to create a more comprehensive solution to plastic pollution that addresses both supply and demand aspects of the problem.
