Say no to plastic bags: Vigil squad to move around markets

MUMBAI: Adopting the post-July 2005 deluge mantra of 'Say no to plastic bags', Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has formed a squad to keep a vigil on vendors giving plastic carry bags in the civic markets across the metropolis.

"We have formed a squad compromising market inspectors, vigilance officers, and other officers who will keep an eye on vendors at all our 92 municipal markets. The squads have been created to fine those using plastic bags less than 50 microns," Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special) Rajendra Bhosale said.

Following the proposal put forward by Mayor Shraddha Jadhav last year to ensure ban of plastic bags below 50 microns in the city, MCGM had stated that it had started the campaign from January 26 on pilot basis in two municipal markets.

"The investigation process was on since January 26 and the squad was keeping an eye on vendors in all the municipal markets. In these two months it was found that some vendors were still issuing plastic carry bags," Bhosale said.

"Today we have declared that at Gopitank market no plastic carry bags will be found. As the market is famous for fish we have asked people to bring tiffin or make use of cloth bags," he added.