In 2023, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) confiscated approximately 12 tonnes of prohibited plastic items, imposing fines totaling around Rs 25 lakh on shopkeepers. Despite these efforts, social activists argue that more actions are necessary to effectively enforce the ban on single-use plastics. The state had prohibited 14 plastic items, including single-use bags and covers, on January 1, 2019; however, the continued usage is attributed by traders to the absence of alternative packing materials and the high cost of biodegradable options.
CCMC officials reported that 14,151 shops were inspected last year, resulting in the seizure of 10,957 kg of banned single-use plastic items and the collection of fines amounting to Rs 24,57,500 from violators. Despite these measures, social activists are urging officials to impose substantial fines and initiate criminal proceedings, asserting that the CCMC tends to target small traders while overlooking larger violators. CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran stated that surprise inspections are ongoing, and fines are currently collected based on the state government’s guidelines, with no immediate plans to increase them. Efforts to reduce the usage of banned plastic items involve identifying their sources, and teams have been deployed to monitor their entry into the city. On a recent raid, 621 shops were inspected, resulting in the confiscation of 188 kg of banned plastics and fines totaling Rs 1,28,100 imposed on violators.
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