The central inspection team can come to Bhopal anytime to conduct the survey of Swachh Survekshan 2023 in the State capital. In such a situation, the officials concerned have now been clamping down on all shop keepers and wholesalers stocking polythene bags despite the ban.

A joint team of Pollution Control Board, Bhopal Municipal Corporation and district administration tightened noose around shopkeepers stocking polythene bags. The team members accompanied with police personnel, broke open locks of a shop located in Ghatkhedi and seized 5 quintals of non-standard polythene and thermocol utensils. Along with this, a spot fine of Rs 10,000 was also recovered from the shop operator. The Central Pollution Control Board and municipal corporation officials had received information that plastic and thermocol plates, spoons and other utensils have been stored in a shop near Malikhedi. Rajesh Kumar Sen is the director of this shop named Ganapati Dona Pattal.

After this, a joint team was formed and sent. When the officers reached the spot, it was found that Rajesh had gone to a party after locking his shop. In such a situation, the officers and employees kept waiting for the return of the shopkeeper for three hours. But when he did not return, Naib Tehsildar Sonia Parihar instructed the staff to break open the lock. After which a truck seized utensils made of non-standard polythene and thermocol from here and sent them to Bhanpur Khanti for destruction. After some time the shop operator also reached there. After this, the team warned him and collected a spot fine of Rs 10,000. Notably, the State Government had taken firm measures against sale and use of polythene bags as it was raising serious environmental concerns particularly due to their dumping and burning in open places, officials stated.