25 tonnes of single use plastic items seized in Salem

SALEM: 25 tonnes of banned plastic items were seized by Salem Corporation officials, on July 24, from private plastic manufacturing unit functioning at Sivathapuram Katur in Suramangalam Zone and a fine of Rs 10 lakh was charged on the owner of unit apart from sealing it.

The raid was conducted by a team led by R Sadheesh, Commissioner, Salem Corporation, and K Parthiban, City Health Officer along with other officials who found the banned plastic items being manufactured in the plastic manufacturing unit.

On January 1, 2019, the State government announced the ban on use and manufacturing of single use plastic items and five monitoring teams were formed to keep a check, inspect and seize of ban plastic item in the city.

The five teams have been conducting raids since January 2, at eateries, hotels, bakeries, mobile shops, tea shops, textile showroom and other establishments where plastic is commonly used.

A total of 3,505 shops were raided between January 2, to June 30, and 12,654 kg of banned single use plastic items have been seized. A fine of Rs 16,28,950 have been levied on the violators till now.