500 kg of plastic items seized from shops in KR Market, Avenue Road

As part of the World Environment Day, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike conducted a plastic-seizure drive on Wednesday.

Officials of both the agencies, with their teams, raided many commercial establishments in KR Market and Avenue Road.

They seized 500 kg of plastic items, including carry bags, spoons, plates, cups, sauce sachets and thermocol plates, and levied a penalty of Rs 21,000.

The items were seized from bulk shop sellers, hotels and shops.

“The raid and seizure was not a sudden act. The commercial units were warned well in advance. Notices were also served to them stating that it was against environment rules to purchase, sell, stock and supply plastic items,” an official said. The two agencies have decided to intensify the drive in the coming days. This comes a day after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy warned of stern action against those using plastic items. Kumaraswamy had also pulled up officials for their lethargic attitude.

This is the first drive in 2018 and the sixth since 2017. The departments are contemplating to cancel the licence of the commercial units that use plastic items.

However, the officials are yet to come up with a solution to curtail plastic items entering Bengaluru and Karnataka from the neighbouring districts, where plastic is not banned.