MARGAO
Madgavkars, beware. Either carry a nylon or cloth bag with you to the fish market from May 1 or risk returning back without purchasing the fish as the fish vendors in the SGPDA market have been given one month grace period to switch over to bags other than the normal plastic bag.
The Margao Municipality, however, has said a firm no to pleas by the vegetable and fruit vendors for a similar concession, with the civic body saying that fruit, vegetable, besides mutton, pork and chicken stalls have all come under the anti-plastic drive from April 1.
The fish vendors have been temporarily spared of the anti-plastic drive for a month given the nature of the activity, where it is sold in wet conditions, especially concerning prawns, squids and other variety of fish. A delegation of the SGPDA fish market vendors led by President Felix Gonsalves called on the Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai and Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes with a plea to spare fish vendors from the ongoing exercise given the nature of the fish selling activity.
Babita, however, sought cooperation from the fish vendors that the ongoing activity has been initiated as per the law. The fish vendors, on the other hand, raised apprehensions that sale of fish in paper may create problems for the customers.
As a via media solution, it was agreed to allow the fish vendors to sell fish in plastic bags for a month till April 30 after which the fish vendors will suo moto stop selling fish in plastic bags.
After the meeting, Felix Gonsalves told The Goan that the fish vendors will cooperate with the civic body, saying the ongoing drive will benefit the people in the long run.
Appreciating the cooperation extended by the fish vendors, the MMC chairperson pointed out that the Municipality has decided to give the vendors a grace period up to April 30 to discard the plastic bags.
She, however, rejected pleas from some vegetable vendors to also spare them from the anti-plastic drive till April 30.
In the meantime, in continued operations for the second day, the Margao Municipal team booked 19 more cases against traders on day two of the anti-plastic drive, taking the number of cases booked during the last two days to 76. An amount of Rs 21,700 was recovered from the traders by way of fines.
Traders register with MMC to
use 50 micron plastic bags
MARGAO: Traders in the commercial capital have begun to register themselves with the Margao civic body by paying an amount of Rs 48,000 to use 50 micron plastic bags, which is allowed under the rules.
While a couple of traders and business establishments have applied for registration by paying the annual fees of Rs 48,000, small traders have been given the option to pay a monthly fee of Rs 4,000 given the nature of their business.
Since the Margao Municipality expects the business community to register with the civic body after paying the registration fees, a separate account has been opened by the Municipality for paying of the fees.
