Over 1,800 industries penalised for violating single-use plastic ban in Telangana

Hyderabad: In the past nearly three years, the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) has identified 1,858 industries across the state for violating single-use plastic (SUP) ban.

Of these, 1,820 were issued challans, leading to the seizure of 7,812 kg of banned plastic and a total penalty of Rs 22.3 lakh.In the statewide checks since Oct 2022, TGPCB along with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and local municipal bodies carried out over 10,500 inspections on multiple establishments including street vendors, markets, industries and commercial spaces.The data shows an increasing trend in enforcement.

In the initial phase (Oct 2022–Dec 2023), 1,127 challans were issued, resulting in fines amounting to Rs 13 lakh. In early 2024, another 474 violations were penalised, followed by 219 more in recent months.“Apart from fines, action was also taken against plastic manufacturing units. Thirteen industries were ordered shut in Oct 2022 for non-compliance, and another eight in Dec 2022 for operating without board approvals,” said TGPCB senior scientist Prasanna Kumar.

The state secretariat has also become SUP-free, according to TGPCB. “Measures include replacing plastic bottles and bags with steel and cloth alternatives, setting up purified water dispensers, a utensil return bank, and regular awareness sessions for govt staff,” Kumar added.