PANAJI
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) on Monday launched a QR-code based app “ ‘Zeeloop’ aimed at creating self-motivated initiatives towards reducing littering of plastic, especially along tourist-centric beach areas.
The app will support an ongoing project, under the European Union and Resources Efficiency Initiatives (EU-REI) programme being implemented by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), on reducing marine litter by strengthening the collection mechanism of discarded fishnets in remote fishing villages.
“These initiatives will aid in linking the objective of banning Single Use Plastic (SUP), being implemented pan-India. This is a great initiative for reducing the littering of plastic waste and discarded fishing nets from our beaches, thus protecting marine ecosystem and promoting sustainable tourism,” Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said while launching the app.
He also announced that government is proposing to bring out a legislation - Deposit Refund System (DRS) - to bring in behavioural change among the general public through reward mechanisms and address waste management initiatives.
The project is implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ-India) with their implementation partners Landbell Green Forest Solutions (LGFS) and Innovative Waste Aid and Management Pvt Ltd Goa.
Chairperson GSPCB Mahesh Patil added that they are looking at reaching out to citizens and tourists to prevent littering of plastic packaging through this app.
“Also, as discarded fishing nets are posing huge ecological threats, we are promoting an effective collection mechanism of these nets from the fishing communities,” he further said.
GSPCB jointly with the EU-REI and GIZ, India also conducted a half-day consultative workshop to launch initiatives being undertaken in the field of Circular Economy and Resources Efficiency.
