In a bid to spread awareness the Election Commission too has banned the usage of single-use plastic during the campaigns in all poll-bound states. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Key Highlights The collector of Maharashtra's Beed district Asteek Kumar Pande imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on himself It was a journalist who pointed out violation during the press conference in collector's office As soon as the press conference wrapped up, Pande pulled up the officials for failing to implement the ban

Aurangabad: The collector of Maharashtra's Beed district Asteek Kumar Pande imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on himself after a journalist pointed out to the use of plastic cups in the collector's office.

The incident took place when the district administration had called a press conference at the collector's office to give out information on the candidates who had withdrawn from the assembly elections on Monday. According to a report, the journalists who were attending the conference were served tea in single-use plastic cups. When one of them pointed out and claimed this was a sheer violation of the state-wide implemented plastic ban, Pande took cognisance of the matter. He later acknowledged the mistake by his department and imposed a fine.

Meanwhile, as soon as the press conference wrapped up, Pande pulled up the officials for failing to implement the ban even in the collector's office. The district authorities stated that after the state assembly elections, the authorities would work towards the effective implementation of the plastic ban.

Reportedly, this was second such incident when the plastic related fine was imposed at the collector's office in the past eight days. In the previous incident, a poll aspirant who had come to file his nomination papers was carrying the deposit money in plastic money. Reportedly as soon as the officials notice the violation, the aspirant was charged with a fine of Rs 5,000.

As per the ban, seeling or using single-use plastic is banned in the state, also, as per the government's directives single-use plastic is banned in all government offices across the country. In a bid to spread awareness the Election Commission too has banned the usage of single-use plastic during the campaigns in all poll-bound states.