Action against single-use plastics has been lax as the municipal corporation has issued only 363 appeals since October 1, 2023, according to government data. The 363 challans amounted to ₹1.61 lakh in fines, the data says.

In previous years, the civic body issued over 10,000 appeals each in 2019 and 2020. However, MC officials did not disclose the figures for 2021, 2022 and 2023.

MC officials cited lack of action on lack of resources and manpower. “Our team is stretched as it is. Enforcing the plastic ban has been a challenge without additional manpower,” said an MC official, requesting not to be named. “We have focused on raising awareness, but enforcement is key if we want to see a real impact,” the official added.

The MC has organized campaigns and awareness drives, urging residents to shun plastic bags and switch to eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth and jute bags.

Chief Sanitary Inspector Ashwani Sahota said, “This year, fewer appeals have been issued and we will soon conduct a drive against single-use plastic bags.”

Street stalls, markets and schools hosted these actions aimed at educating the public about the environmental dangers of single-use plastics. Locals and environmentalists claim that plastic bags remain available in almost every shop and street vendor.

Many retailers continue to use single-use plastics, citing a lack of affordable alternatives and high customer demand. Residents have expressed concern, claiming that single-use plastic bags are being used unchecked in local markets.

“It’s confusing. We’re told to avoid plastic, but almost every store carries them. There is a lack of enforcement,” said Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Zone C.

Environmental activists urged the MC to take a stricter approach. They said that without fines and regular inspections, awareness campaigns are not enough to reduce plastic consumption.

“Awareness must be paired with strong action,” said a local environmentalist.

MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal was not available for comment.