Thane: While the state-wide ban on plastic seems to have driven many residents towards eco-friendly decorations for Ganesh Chaturthi, several shopkeepers in the city are openly seen selling decorative festive products made from plastic or thermocol.Environment-conscious citizens claimed that the ban that came into effect on June 23 appears to have taken a back seat during this festive season with many retailers still making big bucks by selling flowers, leaves and garlands curated from plastic.Prajakta Chitnis, a resident of Majiwada, said, “I recently visited the market and noticed that many stores had kept on display plastic decorative items for the festival. When I asked the owner he said that the products have been made from 50 microns and more plastic. I told him that as per the state government notification all plastic and thermocol used for decoration purposes have been banned. But many customers believed what this shopkeeper had said. This is how many are fooling the consumers and taking advantage of the their lack of knowledge.”Some residents also claimed that the shopkeepers refused to allow them to click pictures of the plastic items on display, fearing that they may report it to the authorities.Shreyas Barve, a resident of Kopri, said, “At a shop in Ram Maruti Road I wanted to send a picture to my wife of certain decorative products on display that I had liked. The shopkeeper told me that I cannot click pictures and even started arguing with me. Till last year I was always allowed to click and share pictures. I later realized that the products were made from plastic and not paper, which he had led me to believe.”Justifying their behavior, some shopkeepers said that they are forced to sell off the stock as they had ordered it in bulk even before the ban had been introduced.“We had ordered decorations from the manufacturers earlier this year when the ban was nowhere to be heard. What will we do with the stock that is left with us? Our sales have died down because many are opting for bamboo, crepe paper, etc. for decoration but we have to keep the business going somehow and just hope someone will buy the stock,” said a city-based shopkeeper.We had ordered decorations from manufacturers earlier this year when the ban was not implemented. What will we do with the stock that is left with us? Our sales have dipped but we have to keep the business going somehow and just hope someone will buy the stock

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