Angul: The state government Wednesday declared that strict restrictions would be imposed on polythene across Odisha from October 2 onwards. As a part of the restrictions, municipality staff here seized 28 quintals of polythene from a pick-up van and imposed a fine of Rs 1, 000 to the occupants.
Sources said the Angul municipality office had been tipped off regarding the van carrying polythene from Bargarh to Angul. The staff waylaid the vehicle at Harimahuri square and seized a huge amount of the banned material. Later, the van was brought to the municipality office and the value of the seized polythene was estimated at Rs 1.30 lakh.
The imposition of the meagre fine however has not gone down well with the local businessmen here. Usually they have to shell out fines between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 if even one quintal of the banned material is found on them. They have questioned why the van driver was let off with only a fine of Rs 1,000 when 28 quintals of polythene was seized.
Executive officer Subhendu Jena failed to provide a satisfactory answer when questioned on the issue.
PNN