MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council has decided to act tough against violators of plastic bag ban by imposing fine and confiscating unauthorised plastic material from April 2 onwards.
In order to implement the ban, the council has formed four teams, each headed by a municipal inspector and four labourers, who will move around the main Mapusa market and the surrounding municipal areas in the city.
The civic body has banned all plastic carry bags below 50 microns in the city.
All manufacturers, importers, stockists, distributors and sellers have been ordered to comply with the provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016.
As per the PWM Rules 2016 the thickness of the plastic carry bags should not be less than 50 microns.
“All shopkeepers and street vendors under the jurisdiction of the the Mapusa municipal area, who are willing to provide plastic carry bags, have to register with the Mapusa Municipal Council by paying registration fee of Rs 48,000 per year,” said Chief Officer, Clen Madeira.
“Only registered shopkeepers and street vendors are eligible to provide plastic carry bags,” he added.
Any person violating the PWM Rules 2016 is liable to be penalized which includes imprisonment up to five years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh.
MMC Chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar, said that from April 2 anyone found violating the plastic bags ban will be
fined and their material confiscated.
“Actually, the plastic ban comes into effect from April 1. But since April 1 is a Sunday, we will start taking action against offenders from April 2. We will spare no one,” said Kavlekar.
He said that the ban will not be restricted only to the market but implemented across the municipal areas of Mapusa. The chairperson said that the civic body has encouraged shopkeepers to buy cloth or paper bags from distributors.
“A certain distributor has taken the initiative to supply cloth and paper bags in the market. Those who are interested can buy from him,” the chairperson said.
