PANAJI
Amid ongoing resistance and delayed rollout of the proposed Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS), the State government is set to use the upcoming three-day Goa Cashew Festival as a platform to familiarise the public with the concept and functioning of the initiative.
The Goa DRS team has announced its first-ever “Experience Zone” at the festival, beginning Friday, offering visitors a hands-on preview of how the scheme will operate once implemented. The zone will feature a live demonstration of a Reverse Vending Machine, allowing citizens to understand how used packaging can be returned in exchange for refundable deposits.
Visitors will also get an opportunity to explore the mechanics of packaging returns and refunds, and gain insights into how the DRS model is proposed to be rolled out across Goa. Officials said the initiative is aimed at building awareness and addressing public concerns through direct engagement.
The move comes at a time when the government, led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, has deferred the implementation of the DRS by six months to one year. Originally scheduled for launch on April 2, the scheme has been put on hold following objections from political opponents, industry stakeholders and local bodies.
During the recent Assembly session, Sawant had clarified that the current phase would focus on awareness and stakeholder consultations. He stated that the scheme would initially be introduced on a pilot basis for glass bottles before being expanded in a phased manner. The system is proposed to be integrated with the existing garbage collection network.
Under the framework, consumers would pay a refundable deposit ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 10 over and above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) on products sold in plastic and glass packaging, which would be reimbursed upon returning the empty containers.
However, the proposal has faced pushback, particularly from industry bodies representing the alcoholic beverage sector -- the first to fall under the ambit of the scheme which has sought postponement until after October -- citing concerns over supply chain disruptions and potential revenue losses. Several village panchayats and retailers have also flagged operational challenges.
Against this backdrop, the Cashew Festival is being positioned as a key outreach initiative, with the government aiming to build public understanding and acceptance of the DRS before its phased implementation.
