Mumbai, Feb 27 (NationPress) Despite the existing ban on the sale of non-biodegradable plastic flowers in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Friday that a new Government Resolution (GR) will be introduced to enhance the enforcement of this prohibition. This GR aims to reinforce the ban on the production and distribution of non-biodegradable plastic flowers while establishing explicit measures for penalizing decorators who utilize these items, as well as marriage and banquet halls that allow their use on their premises.

During a discussion initiated by BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute, who pointed out the farming community's persistent demand for a complete ban on artificial and plastic flowers due to their increasing prevalence in recent years, the Chief Minister intervened. Pachpute also expressed concerns regarding the market's influx of subpar plastic toys.

NCP MLA Jayant Patil raised alarms about the rising sales of plastic flowers, asserting that this trend is detrimental to farmers who have invested significantly in developing greenhouses for cultivating natural flowers.

Chief Minister Fadnavis noted that the market is saturated with artificial flowers, making it challenging to differentiate between real and plastic varieties. He emphasized that non-biodegradable plastic flowers are inflicting environmental harm and causing financial setbacks for farmers engaged in natural floriculture. He announced that the Environment Department would take stricter measures, with involvement from other relevant departments as needed.

BJP MLA Pravin Datke highlighted the inadequate implementation of the existing GR concerning the plastic ban across various Municipal Corporations and Councils. He urged that the forthcoming GR should explicitly outline the consequences for local self-government officials who neglect to enforce the order.

During this dialogue, Environment Minister Pankaja Munde shared statistics regarding the enforcement actions taken by her department, revealing that approximately 92,000 cases of plastic ban violations were identified in the last four to five years, resulting in the seizure of 4,135 tonnes of plastic. The government has collected fines totaling Rs 25 crore, with penalties of Rs 5,000 for first-time offenders, Rs 10,000 for second-time offenders, and provisions for three months of imprisonment and a Rs 25,000 fine for subsequent violations.

Jayant Patil also addressed issues surrounding the Dadar flower market, mentioning that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation had removed flower vendors under the pretext of encroachment clearance, leading to a complete strike by the Mumbai Flower Vendors Association. He called for government intervention to resolve this conflict. Chief Minister Fadnavis assured the assembly that he would investigate the situation and seek a resolution to conclude the protest.