Baramulla, Sep 21: With the ban on single-use plastic by the administration that came into effect from July 1, the Municipal Council Sopore Wednesday cracked whip on traders for selling banned single-use plastic.
Food inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that names of eleven traders were provided to police for necessary action under law for keeping single use plastic (SUP) in Sopore town despite repeated warnings from the department.
“11 names were provided to authorities to book them under section 290 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for keeping banned Single Use Plastics, while a formal letter has also been sent to the concerned police station for registration of FIR,” he said.
Imtiyaz said that the drive will continue in coming days and strict action will be taken against the violators selling or using plastic bags and banned plastic items in the municipal limits of Sopore.
Talking to Rising Kashmir President Municipal Council Sopore, Masarat Kar said that at least 497 kilograms of polythene has been seized from January 2022 till date in Sopore Municipal limits, besides a fine of Rs 62,000 has also been imposed on the violators.
“The idea to book the traders or any person using SUP is not to create any trouble for common people and the ban is to be enforced with everyone’s cooperation with focus being on creating awareness and promoting use of alternatives,” Masarat said.
She said that Municipal Council Sopore has used every resource from the last several months to raise awareness among the traders and locals and the government has also banned the use of Single Use Plastics.
Earlier the government had stated that the continued use of certain identified single-use plastic (SUP) items can make a person face penal action. Although the quantum of penalty will depend on respective local civic bodies’ decisions on punitive actions including fines or jail terms.
The ban came to effect from July 1 and all the states and union Territories were directed to enforce the ban on those items which not only pollute air, water and soils but also clog drains and damage the overall natural ecosystem.
