Tamil Nadu CM orders crackdown on plastic ban violators

A ban on single-use plastics came into effect across the state on January 1.
Tamil Nadu CM orders crackdown on plastic ban violators
Tamil Nadu CM orders crackdown on plastic ban violators
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has ordered a crackdown on violators using single-use plastic in the state. The plastic ban came into effect on January 1 this year, banning all single-use plastics commonly used for plastic packaging and include items like grocery bags, food containers, bottles, straws, containers, cups and cutlery. 

At a meeting with senior ministers and bureaucrats on Monday, the Chief Minister directed officials to pursue legal action against violators of the ban.

According to a report in The Hindu, CM Palaniswami was apprised of measures taken by the government to impose the ban in the state. He encouraged various government departments to encourage the use of alternatives to plastic. The newspaper reports that Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan, School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan, Electricity Minister P Thangamani, Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan, Environment Minister KC Karuppannan, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar, along with Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, were in attendance. 

According to a report in the Times of India, the Chief Minister sought the support of the public to enforce the plastic ban. "The general public should make use of alternative products to plastic and help the state government in its efforts to preserve the environment," an official statement said, quoting the CM.

The state government will fine first-time offences-- such as storage, supply, transport, sale and distribution of single-use plastics-- at Rs 25,000. Second-time offenders would invite a fine of Rs 50,000 while third-time offenders would have to cough up Rs 1 lakh. The meeting also discussed the possibility of cancelling the licences of shops and establishments found to be violating the plastic ban.

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