Ahmedabad, March 16: The Gujarat High Court has commended the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for its extensive campaign aimed at making the city a “Plastic-Free City.” In a recent order, the court praised AMC’s efforts and encouraged other major municipalities in the state to follow suit.
The court was presented with detailed information regarding solid waste management, disposal of seized plastic waste, and the upcycling of plastic materials. The AMC also shared insights on the use of plastic waste in cement industries and waste-to-energy plants. Additionally, the court reviewed compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and data related to registered recyclers.
Based on this presentation, the High Court expressed satisfaction with the effective implementation of plastic waste management rules by the AMC and the ongoing efforts in waste collection and processing.
Furthermore, the court recommended that other prominent municipalities in the state, including Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara, take proactive measures to manage plastic waste by adopting the AMC’s model.
Currently, AMC is conducting intensive inspections and punitive actions to curb the use of banned plastics in Ahmedabad. A complete ban is in place on plastic bags thinner than 120 microns and non-woven carry bags below 60 GSM.
To ensure effective enforcement of these regulations, daily inspection campaigns are being conducted by cleanliness squads across all 48 wards in the city’s seven zones. Over the past year, notices have been issued to a total of 148,413 individuals and entities, resulting in fines amounting to ₹42.9 million. Additionally, actions have been taken to seal more than 20,926 establishments violating the rules, and 9,626 kilograms of banned plastic have been seized and disposed of.
Special campaigns are also being conducted twice a week, focusing on food markets, grocery stores, street vendors, and fruit and vegetable markets. Fines for violations are set at ₹1,000 for the first offense, ₹3,000 for the second, and ₹5,000 for the third or subsequent offenses. Furthermore, units producing or selling banned plastics on a large scale are also subject to sealing actions.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has made a humble appeal to all aware citizens, business organizations, and street vendors to stop using plastic bags and adopt “cloth bags” for environmental protection. This campaign is not merely about collecting fines but aims to genuinely create a clean and plastic-free city, calling for active cooperation from the citizens.
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