Mumbai: BMC to revoke hawkers’ license for using banned plastic

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will start cancelling licenses of hawkers if they are found using or selling banned plastic. The step is taken after it has been observed that hawkers across the city are selling their products in banned plastic carry bag.

According to a civic official, there is a notification from the state government that has a provision of revoking the licence of licenses of shops and hawking stalls for violating the law. At present, the BMC is collecting Rs 5,000 fine from violators.

Vijay Balambar, deputy municipal commissioner (election) and incharge of the plastic ban said that there is a circular that allowing the civic body to cancel the license of shops and hawkers if they violate the law. “Officials of the market, license and shop and establishments, who are carrying out an inspection of plastic ban, have been directed to cancel hawkers’ license immediately if found with banned plastic,” said Balambar.

A circular was already received by the BMC in December that allowed to take coercive action. The same has already forwarded to the concerned department of all ward offices. The department has been asked to take further action on offenders of the plastic ban as given in the notification.

According to BMC’s data, since the ban came into effect, the BMC visited around 4.5 lakh establishments and seized 48, 163 kg of plastic. It also collected Rs 2.05 crores as fine.

To implement the ban, the BMC formed a special squad consisting of 300 officials from Market, License and Shop and Establishments. The squad was christened blue squad who visited malls, shops and establishments, well-known eateries and searched for banned plastic.

1. However, the BMC’s blue squad faced resistance from many shops due to lack of clarity on banned plastic. “We are just implementing the state government’s decision. But, people thought that we are forcing a local body’s decision,” said a senior civic official. He added that they also faced ire from political parties. Meanwhile, retail association from the city were asked to control banned plastic supply from the neighbouring state.