Plastic Ban Still a Sham in Nagpur: NMC Begins Enforcing 75-Micron Rule Three Years Late
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However, after months of inaction, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has begun enforcing the rules.
The Central government's amendments to the
Plastic Waste Management
Rules increased the thickness threshold for plastic bags from 50 microns to 75 microns in 2021 and then to 120 microns in 2022 to reduce environmental harm by promoting thicker, reusable plastics. The ban was also expanded to include single-use plastic commodities beyond carry bags.
Yet, little has changed on the ground.
However, inadequate enforcement has rendered these changes largely ineffective, with non-compliance widespread, making the restrictions more symbolic than impactful.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the nodal agency responsible for ensuring a comprehensive ban on the manufacture and distribution of such plastics, has been notably absent from ground-level enforcement.
Instead, the responsibility has fallen entirely on Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) solid waste management department and the Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS), which are operating with limited capacity.
"We have started imposing fines on shopkeepers for using carry bags below 75 microns," confirmed Virsen Tambe, commandant of the NDS. Previously, the NMC targeted only plastic bags thinner than 50 microns, despite the updated norms taking effect in 2021 and 2022.
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This delayed enforcement highlights a significant gap between legislation and implementation. Activists point out that the entire supply chain—from manufacturers to retailers—continues to flout the law, while authorities often turn a blind eye.
Between November 2023 and May 2, 2025, the NDS conducted over 74,000 inspections, booked 845 violators, and seized more than 4,611 kg of banned plastic. Fines totaling ₹42.75 lakh were imposed.
Despite these efforts, plastic carry bags remain prevalent in local markets.
"Unless wholesale distributors and manufacturers are held accountable, targeting retailers is merely firefighting," an NMC official admitted.
Enforcement data also revealed inconsistent efforts. While December 2023 and March 2024 saw heightened activity, inspections dropped significantly by May 2025, with only 37 shops inspected on May 1 and 38 on May 2.
Citizens and environmental activists are now urging the MPCB to intervene urgently and demand stricter oversight by the police to curb the rampant use of banned plastic bags.
Plastic Ban Action by NDS Team, NMC Nagpur (01 Nov 2023 to 02 May 2025)
| Date | Total No of Shops Checked | Total No of Cases | Amount of Fines (Rs) | Total Single Use Ban Plastic Seized (gm) |
|------------|----------------------------|-------------------|----------------------|------------------------------------------|
|
Nov-23 | 2,523 | 19 | 95,000 | 64.100 |
| Dec-23 | 17,115 | 90 | 455,000 | 201.870 |
| Jan-24 | 11,401 | 59 | 300,000 | 193.700 |
| Feb-24 | 9,043 | 46 | 230,000 | 68.900 |
| Mar-24 | 7,925 | 54 | 270,000 | 2290.900 |
| Apr-24 | 6,258 | 43 | 215,000 | 57.000 |
| May-24 | 5,878 | 56 | 280,000 | 262.000 |
| Jun-24 | 4,819 | 42 | 210,000 | 47.400 |
| Jul-24 | 2,836 | 43 | 215,000 | 202.310 |
| Aug-24 | 47 | 47 | 230,000 | 46.700 |
| Sep-24 | 391 | 37 | 185,000 | 53.100 |
|
Oct-24 | 982 | 68 | 340,000 | 666.700 |
| Nov-24 | 693 | 38 | 195,000 | 190.500 |
| Dec-24 | 829 | 43 | 215,000 | 56.700 |
| Jan-25 | 836 | 44 | 220,000 | 53.000 |
| Feb-25 | 829 | 36 | 180,000 | 52.000 |
| Mar-25 | 896 | 31 | 200,000 | 47.600 |
| Apr-25 | 853 | 45 | 220,500 | 52.700 |
| 01-May-25 | 37 | 2 | 10,000 | 2.000 |
| 02-May-25 | 38 | 2 | 10,000 | 2.000 |
| Total | 74,433 | 845 | 4,275,500 | 4,611.180 |
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