the goan I network
MARGAO
Plastic ban comes into force in three major cities of Goa - Panaji, Margao and Mapusa - from today. All the three municipal bodies of respective cities had resolved to enforce the ban from April 1, after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s announcement on Liberation Day function last year. “From 30 May next year, there will be a complete ban on plastic in the state. We are making this announcement in advance so that all those who have made it as their economic activity should not complain at the last minute,” the Chief Minister had said, while also adding that Swachh Bharat and Nitol Goem (Clean Goa) were on top of the government’s list of priorities.
The success of this positive move now depends on how the respective councils and corporations go about implementing the ban ie from today.In Margao, the civic body has formed teams to fan out in the markets and centres of commerce with police protection to enforce the ban on sale of plastic bags below 50 microns across the commercial capital.
The exercise will be repeated on Tuesday with police protection as Municipal teams will make its presence felt in the SGPDA market, New Market and the Gandhi markets, besides the area around the Gomant Vidya Niketan, the entire stretch from Bank of Baroda to power house and Chowgule college, besides Comba, old market area upto the Holy Spirit area.
MMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes has roped in Civic officials from the sanitation, technical and taxation section to crack a whip against establishments selling plastic bags in violation of the law. The Chief Officer has also sought the help and assistance of the Margao as well as the district Collector, South with a plea to the Collector to nominate an executive magistrate for law and order duties.
The Chief Officer said that Goa has enacted the Goa non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996 and the mamlatdars/Jt Mamlatdars/Executive magistrates are empowered to act upon the same by imposing penaly a well as by confiscating the plastic bags. Simultaneously, the plastic Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 have also been enforced by the Union of India on account of the growing menace of plastic waste, whereby any plastic bag handler has to register with the Council for the sale.
