PANAJI: Though the Corporation of the City of Panaji had announced the implementation of the plastic ban from December 1, the civic body's machinery is yet to get into action owing to the weekend holidays and the feast of St Francis Xavier on Monday.
The ban has not been implemented for the last three days and not a single offender was fined.
“Since holidays were there we could not implement the ban from Saturday. Now the ban will be implemented from Tuesday onwards,” said Mayor Vithal Chopdekar when asked about the implementation of the ban.
Opposition corporators however alleged that the mayor was never serious about the implementation of plastic ban and made the statement at the last meeting only to divert attention from other important issues which were to come up for discussion.
“The mayor announced implementation of plastic ban for the third time and it has not been implemented. Whether the officers from the CCP listen to the Mayor or not is the question,” said corporator Pundalik Raut Desai.
The ruling members were trying to pass many resolutions regarding advertisement and road digging which were rejected at the meeting.
To divert attention from the issue, the mayor again made an announcement of the implementation of plastic ban before the media, Desai said, adding that if this happens repeatedly, the people and vendors will not take the ban seriously.
It may be recalled that the CCP has banned the use of plastic in the city from October 2 but the ban is yet to be implemented.
Now, the mayor has announced strict implementation of the ban claiming that a fine of Rs 5000 will be levied on offenders.
Repeat offenders will be fined Rs 10,000, the mayor had said on Saturday last.
CCP yet to implement plastic ban
Opposition corporators allege mayor was never serious about the ban
