Banned 7 Years Ago, Single-use Plastic Bags Still Flood City

Time of India

2 days ago

Nagpur: Seven years after the ban on single-use plastic came into force in the state, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) continue to grapple with widespread violations, exposing the ineffectiveness of enforcement drives and a glaring lack of deterrence.
Though prime responsibility of enforcing the ban on single-use plastic relies on MPCB, the board is taking least interest in implementing the diktat, issued on March 23, 2018.
From 2018 to May 2025, NMC's nuisance detection squad (NDS) cracked down on over 1.66 lakh establishments, seizing over 75,000kg banned single-use plastic bags and collecting fines exceeding Rs2.68 crore. Yet, these bags remain a common sight across markets, kirana stores, and roadside vendors, a testament to the civic body's inability to enforce sustainable compliance.
The trend-line in enforcement shows sharp inconsistencies. For instance, while 2019-20 saw the highest number of cases (1,276) and most plastic bags seizure (17,929kg), both the number of seizures and the quantity have drastically fallen in recent years, with just 1,728kg seized in 2024-25, despite 24,713 shops being checked. The drop is even more alarming for April and May 2025, with only 132kg seized in 1,783 inspections.
The fact that despite thousands of inspections, only one FIR has been lodged since the ban, and no legal notices were issued since then, indicate a troubling over-reliance on fines with minimal legal escalation. While the number of shops checked in 2023-24 peaked at 56,458, the volume of seized plastic actually dropped to just 5,816kg, implying either lack of serious violations, which contradicts ground realities, or failure to act decisively when violations are found.
A close look at NDS action in these years reveals most violations are taking place in areas under Gandhibagh and Satranjipura zones. Activists and citizens allege enforcement is often superficial and selective. "Plastic carry bags are openly used in markets like Itwari, Mahal, and Sakkardara. NMC's actions are largely cosmetic — they raid for a few days, then disappear," said an environmental campaigner.
Officials admit that a lack of sustained public awareness, weak penalties, and limited manpower have crippled the campaign.
"Retailers return to using plastic bags because alternatives are costlier, and there's no consistent follow-up. Without criminal prosecution or seizure of trade licenses, the problem will persist," said a senior officer.
Ironically, 2023-24 and 2024-25 saw some of the highest inspection numbers, yet outcomes fell short. The deterrent value of penalties, averaging Rs5,000 per case, appears minimal, especially for wholesale traders and larger vendors.
The civic body had earlier promised to develop a zero-tolerance zone model and promote cloth and paper bag alternatives in partnership with NGOs, but the initiative has not taken off.
If the current pace continues, environmentalists fear that the city's plastic burden will only grow, choking drains and polluting the environment. Citizens have demanded that NMC intensify raids, escalate legal action, and support the plastic-free cause with genuine alternative solutions, not just numbers on paper.
Environmentalist Leena Buddhe said NMC, like all other urban local bodies, has a significant role to play in enforcing the plastic ban to ensure effective plastic waste management. "Conducting regular inspections and drives to confiscate banned plastic bags and imposing heavy penalties is crucial to deter people from using them," she said.
In a city aiming to be counted among 'Smart Cities', the continued failure to ban something as basic as single-use plastic remains a blot on civic governance, she said.