the goan I network
PANAJI
The plastic ban came into force at the Panjim Municipal Market on Tuesday.
To make vendors aware of the same, Panjim Mayor Vithal Chopdekar along with the CCP Commissioner Ajit Roy visited the market in the morning and spoke to the vendors.
A visit to the market, however, proved that while many vendors were on board with the CCP’s ban, a few were still reluctant to come on board.
While most vendors were seen packaging their products in paper or cloth bags, some were adamant about continuing with the use of plastic bags, while others were also seen openly using plastic bags to wrap their goods.
When asked, a vendor told The Goan, “Well, we’ve already got a whole lot of plastic bags that we need to use up. We are aware of the CCP ban, but no one told us anything. CCP officials spoke to the vendors at the front of the market and went away.”
However, other vendors when asked, immediately said, “Yes we are aware of the ban. We aren’t giving out plastic bags,” even though they were seen handing out the same to their customers. Yet others, said that there were practical problems which needed to be resolved before they could consider stopping the use of plastic.
The vendors giving out cloth bags were happy to do so. “We are selling these for Rs 10 a piece, but the CCP also distributed other cloth bags to us, which we will use soon,” said a vendor.
Though the CCP said they would make available alternatives in the form of cloth, jute, paper and other forms to the vendors, the move has not come with the required quantity.
When contacted, CCP mayor Vithal Chopdekar said that since Tuesday was only Day 1 of the ban, it was just a day to inform vendors of the ban and create awareness.
“From Wednesday onwards, the CCP inspectors will act strictly against the vendors using plastic bags,” he said.
No action was taken against vendors using the same on Tuesday.
The CCP also intends to impose hefty fines on violators.
As for customers, many were seen carrying their own cloth and strong plastic bags to the market, while others were very happy to receive the thin-micron bags being handed over to them.
