CLEARED SKHERSLUG: DAY 1 OF PLASTIC BANNashik: Over 350kg of plastic, mostly comprising carry bags, was seized during surprise visits to shops and market places on Saturday, the first day of the statewide ban.The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had begun drives against plastic since the notification on the ban was published on March 23, but it upped the implementation from Saturday. Squads in all six municipal divisions of the city were seen in action from 8.30 am.Civic officials said surprise checks were conducted at market places, shops, commercial establishments and other public places on Saturday and those selling and using plastic were fined. Till afternoon, a total fine of Rs 3,60,000 was collected.On the first day of action, citizens were mostly not fined or checked and the focus was largely on traders , supermarkets, retail shops.In Nashik East, Rs 70,000 was collected as fine from 14 plastic users, in Nashik West, 15 users were fined Rs 75,000, in Nashik Road, 12 users had to pay up a total of Rs 60,000. The team in Panchavati division collected Rs 80,000 as fine from 16 users, in Satpur division, five users paid total of Rs 25,000 and 10 users paid Rs 50,000 in New Nashik.“We appeal to manufacturers, traders, vendors and citizens to stop using or selling plastic and avoid penal action. Those who have plastic in their homes should get in touch with the respective divisional sanitary inspector and hand these over to them for disposal,” said a civic official.On Saturday, people from Vinayak Colony in Satpur contacted the civic administration and handed over the plastic in their possession.The civic body has set up plastic collection centres at Dwarka Godown in Nashik East division, Kalpana Nagar on College Road in Nashik West division, Satpur Club House in Satpur division and the divisional offices at New Nashik (CIDCO) division, Panchavati division and Nashik Road division.The Maharashtra government introduced a ban on plastic under the Maharashtra Plastic Carry Bags Rules, 2006 Maharashtra Bio-degradable and Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 2006 on March 23.Traders and manufacturers had knocked the doors of the high court against the government decision and were granted a three-month respite to dispose of the plastic in their possession. The three-month grace period ended on June 23.The NMC began strict implementation of the ban as per the directions of the state government and formed squads at the divisional level.“The divisional officer has been made the authorised officer to implement the ban in the respective division. Divisional sanitary inspector and sanitary inspectors will be functioning under him as squad. Six such squads have been formed in each of the six divisions,” said an officer from the health department.Citizens, traders can get in touch with the divisional sanitary inspectors for plastic-related issues. Sanjay Gangurde for New Nashik (CIDCO) division can be reached on 9423179171, Sanjay Gosavi for Nashik Road division on 9423179176, Sanjay Darade for Panchavati division on 8275088513, Sunil Shirsat for Nashik East division on 9423179173, Dilip Chavan for Nashik West division on 9881062167 and Madhuri Tambe for Satpur division on 9423179175.The collected plastic will be used to generate oil at the biogas plant in the municipal solid waste management plant. The capacity of the plant is to process four tonne of plastic per day. One tonne of plastic gives 600-700 litres oil.At present, because of the quality of plastic, 40-45% oil is generated. If the plant gets good quality plastic, it can produce 60-70% oil. This oil is equivalent to furnace oil and good enough to use in genset with diesel.

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