The Maharashtra government has relaxed its stringent ban on plastic usage by allowing small retailers to use plastic bags for packaging for the next three months. The relaxation will be applicable for plastic bags above 50 microns.

The announcement came within four days of imposing the ban on single-use plastic across the state. The relaxation granted to small retailers is on the lines of a similar exception already available for branded products.

State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam said, representatives of small traders had submitted a proposal to work out a mechanism for recycling plastic bags within the next three months. He said, the small retailers also submitted a proposal on collecting plastic bags that would be giving to the consumers.