Times of India: Pune: Monday, June 25, 2018.
The civic
body has clarified that it will not initiate any steps to reduce the fine
amount for violating the plastic ban in the city. Leaders of the ruling BJP in
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are in favour of ensuring the fine amount
remains unchanged.
Talks related
to reducing the fine amount were arranged after a similar initiative was
considered at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A group of elected members
of the BMC had proposed a reduction in the fine amount from Rs.5000 to Rs.200,
since implementing action and charging the fine would be a tough task for civic
officials.
“Though the
ban is good in principle, the ground level implementation is wrong. The civic
body, which is implementing the ban, is not prepared for it. The system is not
in place to carry out drives and curtail the use of plastic entirely,” said
Ajay Vaishampayan, a social activist. He has sought information under the Right
to Information (RTI) Act about the preparedness of the civic administration. He
said that PMC could not provide details relating to plastic garbage and
carrybags.
“We are not
thinking of reducing the fine on the lines of BMC. If any such decision is
taken, citizens will be informed accordingly,” said mayor Mukta Tilak.
Officials
said that PMC can make a suggestion to reduce the fine amount before the state
government. “A green signal would be required from the civic body’s standing
committee and general body before getting the final stamp from the state
government,” the PMC official said, requesting anonymity.