Maharashtra Plastic Ban: Nashik Traders Warn Of Stir, Demand Alternative

Traders in Nashik have warned of an agitation against the plastic ban in Maharashtra, demanding that the state government first find alternatives to plastic instead of just enforcing the ban of these items and collecting fine on them.

Various traders associations held a meeting yesterday to discuss the state-wide ban on plastic, which came into effect from Saturday.

“Traders are not at all against the government’s move of banning plastic items. But we want the government to provide alternatives to plastic,” Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Chairman Santosh Mandlecha told reporters.

He added that the traders had raised some issues related to plastic ban during a meeting held on June 20, three days before the ban into effect. However, the government is yet to address these issues.

“The Nashik Municipal Corporation staff should stop action against us. The government should first make available alternatives to plastic instead of just collecting fine. If this does not happen, we will launch an agitation,” said Prafulla Sancheti, president of Nashik Grocery Traders Association.

Until and unless the state government acts on the issues raised by us, the civic body should stop taking action in this regard, he added.