Municipal Corporation officials inspect shops during a crackdown on banned polythene at Prakash Chowk in Jagadhri.
Raids conducted at Prakash Chowk and Railway Road in Jagadhri; banned plastic seized and ₹7,000 recovered in penalties
PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK JAGADHRI
The Yamunanagar Municipal Corporation has intensified its crackdown on the sale and use of single-use plastic and banned polythene, with enforcement teams carrying out inspections at key commercial locations in Jagadhri. Acting on the directions of Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahabir Prasad, a joint team of the Municipal Corporation and the Pollution Control Board conducted raids at Prakash Chowk and Railway Road, taking action against 12 shopkeepers found in possession of banned polythene.
During the enforcement drive, the municipal team inspected vegetable and fruit vendors as well as other shops around Prakash Chowk. Banned polythene was recovered from nine shopkeepers, who were issued challans on the spot. The team subsequently conducted inspections along Railway Road, from Agrasen Chowk to ESI Hospital, where banned polythene was found in the possession of three more shopkeepers.
The municipal authorities seized the banned polythene found during the inspections and recovered a total of ₹7,000 in fines from the violators. Officials said the action was part of the corporation’s continuing campaign against single-use plastic, open dumping of waste and unauthorised encroachments in different parts of the city.
The enforcement operation was carried out by teams working under the supervision of senior sanitation officials. Under the directions of Commissioner Mahabir Prasad, teams have been conducting regular inspections in the corporation’s different zones to identify violations and take action according to the applicable rules.
In Zone One, a team led by Chief Sanitary Inspector Harjeet Singh has been assigned responsibility for enforcement activities. In Zone Two, teams are operating under Chief Sanitary Inspector Govind Sharma, while Zone Three is being supervised by Chief Sanitary Inspector Amit Kamboj.
During the latest drive in Jagadhri, the Zone One team comprising Sanitation Inspector Sushil Sharma, Pollution Control Board Junior Engineer Gaurav and Home Guard personnel first reached Prakash Chowk. The team inspected shops and vendors in the area, with particular attention being paid to vegetable and fruit sellers and establishments where single-use plastic could be used for carrying or packaging goods.
During the inspection, banned polythene was recovered from nine vendors and shopkeepers. Sanitation Inspector Sushil Sharma issued challans to the violators at the spot and collected the prescribed fines. The seized polythene was also taken into municipal custody.
The enforcement team then moved towards Railway Road and conducted inspections along the stretch between Agrasen Chowk and ESI Hospital. Three shopkeepers were found to be in possession of banned polythene. The corporation team seized the material and issued challans to all three violators.
Officials said the enforcement campaign would continue and that shopkeepers, vendors and other commercial establishments would be expected to comply with the ban on prohibited single-use plastic items.
Chief Sanitary Inspector Harjeet Singh and Sanitation Inspector Sushil Sharma said the use of polythene and 19 categories of single-use plastic items has been prohibited since July 1, 2022. The sale of such prohibited items is also banned, and violations can lead to penalties as well as seizure of the material under the applicable Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022.
The officials said the purpose of regular enforcement is not limited to collecting fines. The corporation is also seeking to create awareness among traders, vendors and members of the public about the environmental consequences of single-use plastic.
Plastic waste can remain in the environment for long periods and can contribute to pollution when it is improperly discarded. Banned polythene can also enter drainage systems and create problems when mixed with other waste. The municipal administration has therefore been encouraging residents and traders to shift towards reusable and environmentally friendly alternatives.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar appealed to residents and shopkeepers to cooperate with the corporation’s efforts to keep the city clean and attractive. He urged people to avoid using single-use plastic and instead adopt cloth or jute bags for shopping and carrying goods.
He said reducing dependence on disposable plastic requires participation from both consumers and traders. Shopkeepers can play an important role by offering customers reusable alternatives, while residents can contribute by carrying their own cloth or jute bags when going to markets.
The Additional Municipal Commissioner also appealed to citizens not to dump garbage in the open. Instead, waste should be collected in dustbins and handed over to the municipal corporation’s waste collection vehicles.
The corporation’s latest action in Jagadhri comes as part of a wider effort to improve sanitation, strengthen enforcement and prevent practices that contribute to environmental pollution. Officials said regular inspections would continue at markets and other areas where violations are reported or detected.
The municipal administration has also stressed that enforcement against single-use plastic needs to be supported by responsible public behaviour. While municipal teams can seize prohibited material and impose fines, long-term reduction in plastic waste will depend on citizens and businesses voluntarily adopting sustainable alternatives.
At Prakash Chowk, the enforcement team specifically inspected fruit and vegetable sellers because plastic bags are frequently used for carrying products purchased from such markets. The recovery of prohibited polythene from multiple vendors indicates the need for continued awareness and enforcement, officials said.
Similarly, the action on Railway Road demonstrated that inspections would not be restricted to a single market or category of business. Commercial establishments found violating the plastic ban can face action regardless of their location.
The municipal corporation has advised traders to check the material they use for packaging and ensure that prohibited plastic products are not stocked or distributed. Compliance can help businesses avoid penalties and contribute to cleaner public spaces.
Officials said the corporation would continue its joint enforcement activities in coordination with the Pollution Control Board. Such coordination is intended to strengthen monitoring and ensure that environmental regulations are implemented effectively at the local level.
The ₹7,000 penalty collected during the Jagadhri drive serves as an enforcement measure against the 12 violators identified during the inspections. More importantly, the seizure of banned polythene is intended to prevent the material from being circulated further in the market.
The municipal administration has urged residents to support the campaign by refusing prohibited plastic bags and carrying reusable bags instead. Citizens have also been encouraged to report practices that contribute to open dumping and plastic pollution so that appropriate action can be taken.
The corporation’s campaign against single-use plastic is being conducted alongside measures aimed at tackling open garbage dumping and encroachment. Officials said these issues are being monitored across the different zones of the municipal corporation.
The latest operation in Jagadhri has reinforced the corporation’s message that violations of plastic regulations will attract enforcement action. With regular inspections planned across the city, traders and residents have been advised to follow the rules and adopt environmentally responsible practices.
The municipal authorities have appealed to everyone to contribute towards making Yamunanagar cleaner and more sustainable by reducing plastic consumption, using reusable bags and ensuring that household and commercial waste reaches the designated collection system.
The corporation said its teams would continue inspections in different markets and public areas. Violators found selling or using prohibited single-use plastic items will face action under the applicable rules, while awareness efforts will continue to encourage a wider shift towards environmentally friendly alternatives.
The corporation’s latest action in Jagadhri comes as part of a wider effort to improve sanitation, strengthen enforcement and prevent practices that contribute to environmental pollution. Officials said regular inspections would continue at markets and other areas where violations are reported or detected.
