MARGAO
As part of its ambitious plan to make the village plastic free, the Rumdamol Panchayat will go crack the whip against business establishments and citizens using plastic bags, beginning from March 12.
Facing a host of garbage-related problems over the years, the village panchayat, which has its jurisdiction over the Rumdamol Housing Board area, has said it means business this time around, as it has appointed a person to levy fines on shopkeepers as well as citizens, beginning from Monday. While erring shopkeepers will be levied a fine of Rs 2,000 for every offence, citizens may have to contend with a fine, ranging from Rs 100 to 500. “We have engaged a person to implement the decision to ban plastic and levy fines. Erring shops will be shut down for violating the law,” panch member Vinayak Volvoikar told the media in the presence of panchayat members. He said the village has been facing the brunt of plastic menace for too long, especially the burning of plastic affecting children more than adults.
He said the panchayat has decided to implement the decision to ban plastics based on a resolution adopted at the panchayat meeting held on February 28. “The panchayat is giving effect to the resolution adopted by the body on February 28. Though we have come to the media today, the garbage contractor was told to spread awareness among the households since the last several days,” he said.
Vinayak said the panchayat will distribute eco-friendly bags to each and every household in the village and the entire exercise will be completed by Monday morning.
Replying to a question, he said the panchayat has put in place a mechanism to collect dry waste throughout the week, adding that the collected waste will be disposed off at the panchayat site.
Replying to a question, the panchayat members said the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has not accepted the site identified by the body for the disposal of the waste. “For the last 10 years, the panchayat had shortlisted the waste disposal site, but the it did not found favour with the GSPCB officials,” panch member Avita Chodankar told the media.
Replying to a question, Vinayak said that the person engaged by the panchayat body will be paid Rs 15,000 per month. He will do multi-tasking, including tackling stray cattle, regulate the traffic as well as enforce the ban.
Panch members Madhukar Shirodkar, Esha naik, Samulla Faniband, Avita Chodankar, Vishwadas Naik and Vinayak Volvoikar were present.
