Surat: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) intensified enforcement on Friday after the state govt’s ban on analogue dairy products, seizing and destroying more than 300kg of prohibited items during inspections while also carrying out action against unhygienic food, improper waste disposal and the use of banned single-use plastic.The SMC continued its crackdown on analogue dairy products after the ban was announced on Wednesday. Food safety officers carried out inspections across the city and checked about 100 outlets. Officials recovered 68kg of analogue paneer, cheese and butter. The items were tested and later destroyed, officials said.On Friday, officials inspected production units and establishments involved in the sale and storage of such products. Teams found 235kg of analogue cheese, which was seized and destroyed.The SMC health department conducted a late-night enforcement drive across the city to improve public health standards, cleanliness and compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules.Inspection teams acted against those dumping waste in public places, vendors selling unhygienic, inedible or stale food items, and commercial establishments using or storing banned single-use plastic.During Thursday night’s inspection, teams checked 1,663 establishments. Authorities destroyed 282kg of inedible food and seized 391.5kg of banned plastics. The SMC issued 296 notices and collected administrative charges totalling Rs 7,82,450.SMC said enforcement teams inspected 2,833 establishments on Thursday and Friday. During the two-day drive, 658.6kg of inedible food was destroyed, and 573.75kg of prohibited plastic was seized. Officials also initiated action against 1,525 violators and collected administrative penalties amounting to Rs 13,61,250.The SMC appealed to citizens, traders and food business operators to maintain hygiene standards, stop selling stale food and discontinue the use of single-use plastic. SMC also urged residents to segregate household waste into four categories in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, saying better compliance is necessary to reduce littering and improve sanitation across the city.
