Banned plastic products worth `5 lakh have been seized from five stockists in the town area of Puducherry during Operation Green Star on Thursday.The raid was jointly conducted by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE) along with officials of revenue, municipalities and police.
Official sources said that during the raid they have found plastic items below 50 microns stored in 55 bags in Padhma Agencies, Abhiramni Agencies, Jitendra Agencies, Jai Plastics in Rangapillai Street and victory polymer in Thiagamudaliar Steet.
Following the seizure of plastic items, DSTE directed the Electricity Department to disconnect the power supply to the stockists under Section 5 of Environment Protection Act. The violators would also be prosecuted under Section 19 of Environment Protection Act. On conviction, the violators would have to pay a fine up to `1 lakh and one year imprisonment, sources added.
Though there was no manufacturers of plastic bags, cups and saucers in Puducherry, the market was flooded with the banned items. These items were brought by the stockists from Goa, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and sold to retailers through distributors, officials said.
On the advice of special secretary of Science and Technology and Environment, director DSTE, five teams were formed to take action against the stockists, sources added.