As part of the ongoing statewide raids being conducted on the directions of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Punjab, 2600 kgs of banned plastic carry bags were seized on Wednesday evening from those storing, transporting and selling them. The highest seizure was made in Batala wherein 1350 kg plastic bags were confiscated.In the intensive raids by joint teams of the Municipal Corporation and the Punjab Pollution Control Board at 282 establishments,153 violations were observed , informed KS Pannu, Director of Environment and Climate Change. “We have issued challans to 144 violators and slapped a penalty of Rs.12000, on the spot while in rest of the cases fine will be imposed after hearing by Municipal Corporation/Committee,” said he.To ensure the maximum compliance of the rule, Pannu appealed to the people and business community to extend their cooperation to combat plastic menace in the State. Director of Environment and Climate Change said that people can’t turn a blind eye towards this issue. They need to chip- in and support government. Many a times small vendors are not able to afford alternatives to plastic carry bags and pulled by consumer demand they resort to supplying articles in the banned plastic carry bags. We are sensitizing people and making them aware through media platforms to abstain from the usage of plastic carry bags as they are hazardous to the environment. People need to change their shopping habits and at least use/carry a cloth or jute bag while making purchases.It is pertinent to mention that the state government has completely prohibited manufacturing, stocking, distribution, recycling, sale and use of plastic carry bags within the jurisdiction of all municipal corporations, councils, nagar panchayats and gram panchayats in 2016.