A raid, jointly conducted by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and Vellore Corporation, at the market and main commercial areas in the city led to the seizure of 1,015 kg of poor quality plastic.

The team, led by the District Environmental Engineer Kamaraj from TNPCB and City Health Officer in-charge Murugan from the Vellore Corporation, conducted checks at Long Bazaar, Anna Bazaar, Chunnmabu Kara Street and Commissary Bazaar in Vellore.

City Health Officer in-charge Murugan said several meetings with merchant organisations, wholesale and retail dealers of plastics were held, and they were advised against selling poor quality plastics.

They were given time to stop selling the plastics that was below 40 microns. However, there were complaints that poor quality plastics were still available in the city.

Plastics that did not bear the permission number of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and that measured below 40 microns were seized.

Murugan also advised the public, who have been using poor quality plastics, to hand over the products at the recycling unit of the Vellore Corporation at Gandhi Nagar, in Katpadi. This plastic would be used for laying roads, he added.