Chinchinim feast fair: P’yat bans plastic carry bags, open defecation in market

the goan I network

MARGAO

With Chinchinim village bracing up to  celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Hope on September 8, the local  village panchayat has stepped in to enforce a ban on the use of plastic  carry bags and open defecation in the market area during the 10 days of  festivities.

In consultation with the villagers as well as with the  law enforcement authorities, the Chinchinim village panchayat has come  out with dos and don’ts during the 10-day fair for smooth conduct of the  festivities.

The fair will be allowed only for a period of 10 days,  from September 8-18, with a condition for the stall owners to wind up  their activities everyday by 10 pm.

Deputy Sarpanch Valentino  Barretto informed that identity cards will be issued to all the stall  owners as well as the workers employed in the 300-odd stalls from the  security point of view. He pointed out that the Goa police had insisted  on the issuance of ID cards for all the stall owners as well as the  workers to ensure verification of their antecedents and verification if  found moving late in the hours in the village.

On the question of  banning use of plastic carry bags, the deputy sarpanch informed that the  stall owners will be issued leaflets as part of an awareness campaign  to enforce the ban on the use of plastic carry bags. “The panchayat  workers will go around the fair every day for implementation of the ban  on use of plastic bags and fine the violators as per the rules in  force,” he said.

Similarly, he requested the people as well as the  stall owners help maintain sanitation during the 10-day fair, saying  that the panchayat will install mobile toilets in addition to the toilet  block for use during the festivities to ensure open defecation free in  the area.

Meanwhile, a number of Masses will be held on the feast day  on Sunday at the Our Lady of Hope Church, Chinchinim. Masses will be  held at 5 am, 6.15 am, 7.30 am, 8.45 am, 10 am and 12 noon. Parish  Priest, Our Lady of Hope Church, Chinchinim, Fr Jose Antonio Costa will  be the main celebrant at the concelebrated high mass.