MAPUSA
In a joint operation to curb the sale of single-use plastic, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and officials from the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) conducted raids in the Mapusa municipal market on Monday, seizing large quantities of banned items and imposing fines totalling Rs 17,500.
A team led by GSPCB officials and MMC representatives targeted shopkeepers selling prohibited single-use plastic items such as straws, cups, spoons and other materials brought in from outside the state.
A GSPCB official stated, “We have been conducting continuous raids and awareness campaigns to discourage the use and sale of single-use plastic. During festive seasons, the problem worsens as garbage piles up on streets, creating challenges for waste collection workers.”
He added that the operation aims to cut off the supply chain of single-use plastics and prevent their sale in local markets.
GSPCB official Siddhant Desai appealed to the public, urging them to avoid using single-use plastic items, including bags, cups and straws.
“If consumers stop accepting these items, shopkeepers will stop selling them. We request everyone to refuse single-use plastics and support this initiative,” Desai said.
The GSPCB plans to continue its enforcement actions across the State, targeting the sale and distribution of single-use plastic.
“Our goal is to eliminate single-use plastic not just in Mapusa but throughout Goa,” Desai emphasised.
This raid comes as part of an intensified effort by authorities to address environmental concerns, particularly during festive periods when waste generation spikes.
The confiscated plastic items are set to be disposed of as per government protocols.
The GSPCB team was led by Sherwin Da Costa and Siddhant Desai, while MMC were represented by Deepali Parab, Junior Engineer, MI Shekhar Gawas, and MI Narsinh Rathwad.
