PANAJI
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) launched an innovative ‘cloth bags on hire’ initiative at its main market in the capital city about a year ago. It was designed to tackle the use of plastic bags, but after the initial enthusiasm from all sides — the CCP as well as the public — interest in the project has dwindled and it is now virtually forgotten.
Initially, the CCP’s market inspectors and other officials used to go around creating awareness about the initiative among the public, both at the market and in the areas around it.
The goal of the initiative was to eventually eliminate the use of plastic bags in the market. However, a crucial pre-condition for the project to succeed — ensuring plastic bags are not available at all by enforcing the ban and imposing fines — has seemingly been neglected.
The CCP has also failed to extend the initiative to other parts of the city, where plastic bags continue to be dispensed and used despite the existence of a ban.
While launching the initiative, the CCP had promised to strictly enforce the plastic ban in the Panaji market, with fines of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 being levied on violators. However, nearly a year later, there is little evidence that market inspectors have done the job.
The initiative “Amchi Poti”, where cloth bags can be hired for a fee of Rs 20, was launched by CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate in the second week of August last year.
The project had a space (stall) at a central place in the market from where the cloth bags could be rented for Rs 20.
After using the bag and returning it on their next visit to the market, the customer is refunded the Rs 20. Even if the bag is damaged or torn for some reason, the full deposit is refunded, yet there are hardly any takers for it as of today.
The bags are made from cloth donated to the RRR Centre of the CCP.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the CCP told The Goan that the response to ‘Amchi Poti’ has been far below the initial expectations of the Corporation.
“However, we will continue persisting with the plan. It will also be rigorously promoted at the Ashtami fair by putting up stalls from where the cloth bags can be hired at three different locations along the riverfront,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the CCP is now planning another woke initiative to encourage the public to give up the use of plastic bags. At the weekend, together with the Forest Department, the capital city’s civic body will set up ‘green booths’ where people will be able to exchange plastics for a sapling of a tree.
