Following several debates among members of the civic standing committee over banning plastic bags to prevent choking of drains in the city, the BMC will now let its municipal market inspectors impose a fine on errant shopkeepers. At present, use of plastic bags thinner than 50 microns is banned.

While a complete ban on plastic bags can be introduced only by the state government, at present only BMC ward officers have the authority to punish those found using plastic bags of lesser thickness. Such bags are largely responsible for choked drains during monsoons, which leads to flooding.