2,600 kg of banned plastic materials seized from Yercaud shops

SALEM: Block development officials in Yercaud seized 2,600 kg of banned plastic materials, including carry bags, from 28 shops in the hill station on Saturday. The officials collected a fine of Rs 14,000 from the shop owners.A team led by BDO D Palanisamy conducted searches at hotels, bakeries and grocery shops. "We seized 2,600 kg of plastic materials on Saturday," Palanisamy stated, noting that personnel from the BDO office collected fines from the shop owners.He asked all shopkeepers to adhere to the state govt’s directive and to utilise only cloth bags. "A fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on a shopkeeper for a first offence. If it occurs a second time, the fine will be Rs 5,000. If a shopkeeper continues to use plastic despite our warnings, their shop will be sealed and closed," he warned, indicating that strict measures would be taken against anyone using plastic carry bags and other plastic materials in their shops.He said that surprise inspections would continue in the coming days in the hill station.