State government tables Bills in Assembly to amend laws for levying fines The State government on Wednesday introduced Bills to amend laws relating to powers of municipal corporations, municipalities and panchayats to levy fines on those violating the ban on single-use plastics. The Bills propose the imposition of penalties ranging from Rs. 100 to Rs. 1 lakh. The government tabled Bills in the Assembly to amend the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920, the Madurai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1971, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation Act, 1981, and the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act. As per the proposals, a fine of Rs. 100 will be levied for the use and distribution of use-and-throw plastics by small commercial vendors when the offence is committed for the first time, Rs. 200 for the second time and Rs. 500 for the third. Similarly, the use and distribution of use-and-throw plastics by medium commercial establishments like grocery and pharmaceutical shops will attract a fine of Rs. 1,000 for a first-time offence, Rs. 2,000 for the second time and Rs. 5,000 for the third. For large establishments Large commercial establishments like malls, textile shops and supermarkets will attract fines of Rs. 10,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000 for every consecutive offence. The storage, supply, transport, sale and distribution of use-and-throw plastics will attract a minimum fine of Rs. 25,000, which will increase to Rs. 50,000 for a second-time offence and Rs. 1 lakh for the third.