Chennai Corporation Seizes Over 15,000 Kg Of Banned Plastic From Shops In April

On Thursday, GCC officials have started to create awareness in public places across the city over the use of eco-friendly products. 

Chennai Corporation workers holding a plastic awareness campaign | Credit: Twitter/@chennaicorp

Chennai: The Greater Chennai Corporation seized 15,029 kg of banned single-use plastic from shops during inspections last month. After the crackdown, Chennai Corporation workers have also started to conduct awareness programs to encourage people to switch to eco-friendly products across Tamil Nadu.

In a press release, Chennai Corporation said, the civic body raided 35,635 shops and seized 15,029 kg of banned plastic products from 8,278 shops. The Corporation also collected Rs 24.75 lakh as fines from the shops, said a report on DT Next.

In January 2019, Tamil Nadu government banned single-use plastic items. Later, orders were issued for GCC to constitute task forces to curb the use of plastics. 

Last month, GCC also set up a task force under the chairmanship of Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi with 19 officials from various departments including environment department, police department, education department, labour department and health department. 

The order also said, the task force would implement a comprehensive action plan for executing Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 and Tamil Nadu government order to curb the use of single-use plastics.

On Wednesday, GCC officials have started to create awareness in public places across the city over the use of eco-friendly products. 

In a tweet, GCC said, "Let's stop using plastic #Chennai. Let's switch over to eco-friendly products. #GCC staff creating awareness in various public places across Chennai today."

"Shall we change #Chennai? Shall we stop using #plastic? #ChennaiCorporation," it said.