“The ban imposed by Maharashtra has hit the industry hard and the plastic industry is staring at a loss of Rs 15,000 crore, leaving nearly three lakh people jobless overnight," Neemit Punamiya, general secretary, Plastic Bags Manufacturers Association of India told PTI.

Nearly 2,500 members of the association have left with the no option but to shut shop following the ban, he added and termed the ban ‘discriminatory’.

On 23 March, the state announced a ban on manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of plastic materials such as one-time-use bags, spoons, plates, PET and PETE bottles and thermocol items. The government had given three months time to dispose of the existing stocks, which ended on 23 June. (Courtesy PTI)