Pune: Traders across Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, who have been selling thermocol and banned plastic items during the festive season, are facing the music.The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken action against erring traders and confiscated 1.5 quintal banned thermocol and 7.93 quintal plastic. As many as 58 cases have been filed against those breaking the rule.Since Tuesday, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has seized 27kg banned plastic material and 6kg thermocol from 13 shops and collected Rs65,000 as fine.“Before the start of the festival, awareness was created among traders and citizens. However, even so, many traders have not followed the orders. They continued to sell the banned products. So, action has been initiated against them,” said a senior PMC official. Additional commissioner of PCMC Dilip Gawde added, “We have 32 teams across eight zones conducting surprise inspections of shops and establishments, to take action against people using the banned items. We have inspected 368 shops and taken action against 13 of them.”The PMC officials have collected around Rs50,000 as fine amount from traders of thermocol, while Rs1.2 lakh has been collected from those selling plastic material. Ten cases have been filed for selling thermocol and 48 cases have been filed against those selling plastic materials.“The action against the banned materials will continue. We have formed special squads and ward-level officials as well as staff members from PMC’s head office have been conducting the drive,” said Dnyaneshwar Molak, head of PMC’s solid waste management department.The ban on single-use plastic items and thermocol was introduced earlier this year. The products include plastic items like carry bags, packaging bags, cutlery like plates, spoons, forks, glasses, among others. Thermocol products have been banned entirely.

Stay updated with all the Pune Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.