Inspection teams formed to seize banned plastic in Tirunelveli

TIRUNELVELI: The Tirunelveli Corporation have formed inspection teams to conduct daily raids and surprise checks in suspected business establishments to seize banned plastic items and impose hefty fine on them.

The initiative was taken after the corporation got information and complaints from public about the violation of ban imposed in the state on the use of single-use-plastic products. From January 1 to May 6 corporation officials have already sized 2,311 kg of plastic products from various business establishments, including shops, hotels, jewelry showrooms, etc. and a fine of Rs 2.30 lakhs had been collected from the establishments that violated the ban.

A statement by P Vijayalakshmi, Commissioner, Tirunelveli Corporation said, “Corporation officials were conducting surprise checks in the places where banned plastic products are stored and sold to the business establishments or the public as the State government had prohibited the manufacturing, storing, selling, and using of these products since January 1, 2019.”

In continuation of this operation, the Corporation has formed two inspection teams per zone and hence the urban civic body’s Tirunelveli, Thatchanallur, Palayamkottai and Melapalayam zones will have eight teams for conducting raids in suspected shops between 3 pm and 6 pm every day.

“If banned plastic products are seized during these raids, hefty fine will be imposed besides initiating legal proceedings against the erring firms,” Vijayalakshmi warned.