UP: Raids conducted as plastic ban comes into effect

With the plastic ban being enforced in Uttar Pradesh today, raids have been conducted throughout the day by municipal bodies in different cities of the state.

In Agra, the plastic ban was welcomed by shopkeepers, who switched to selling their products in paper bags.

"We are selling the products in paper bags, even the customers are getting cloth bags from their homes," said the owner of a sweet shop, Arvind Singh.

City Mayor Naveen Jain also said that the municipal corporation is conducting raids, and working to fully implement the order passed by the state government.

"We have banned plastic as per orders of the Uttar Pradesh government. We have appointed four deputy commissioners who are conducting raids with their teams at various locations in the city," said Jain.

The mayor also said that offenders will be slapped with a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh if they found plastic bags after 15 days.

Vendors selling products in paper bags

Despite the ban, however, fruit and vegetable sellers in Moradabad were seen using polythene bags.

"We've deployed four teams in the city. They have been directed to seize polythene and plastic items below 50 microns. We have made cloth bags, which will be distributed among people to create awareness," Avnish Kumar, City Commissioner, Moradabad Municipal Corporation, told ANI.

Fruit vendors selling goods in plastic bags

On the other hand, locals in Etawah were unaware of the ban, and shopkeepers were seen using polythene bags to sell products.

The Uttar Pradesh government had ordered a ban on the use of plastic bags below 50 microns from July 15.

Similarly, the Maharashtra government too had issued a notification, imposing a ban on the manufacture, use, sale and distribution of all plastic materials like plastic bags, spoons, plates, bottles and thermocol items.

The Telangana government had also instructed municipal bodies across the state against the usage of plastic.