The annual Vasco Damodar Saptah draws huge crowds from across Goa and other parts of the country. A huge fair consisting of numerous stalls comes up along the two main streets of the city. In the past, several attempts have been made to ban plastic bags at the fair but to no avail. Plastic bags are used by vendors with impunity. These bags, due to their durability and low cost, are used extensively but discarded carelessly, leading to pollution of land and water, harming wildlife, and contributing to climate change.
The capacity of the local governments to impose a ban and ensure the necessary monitoring mechanism remains a challenge. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 prohibit the use of plastic bags below a thickness of 50 microns in Indian cities. Notwithstanding the ban, use of plastic bags has continued, which is evident from choked drains in the cities.
Although initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have boosted awareness, there is still a considerable void to be addressed. The government must aim at improving its monitoring mechanism and levying fines upon defaulters. While there exists no panacea for addressing the plastic waste issue, a structured approach would definitely help alleviate the effects of the menace. Reusable cloth bags, paper bags, and biodegradable bags are excellent alternatives to plastic bags.
During the Vasco Saptah, efforts are being made by social clubs like the Rotaract Club of Vasco to create awareness by distributing eco-friendly cloth and paper bags at the Saptah fair. The Vasco municipality needs to support such moves by social clubs and show zero tolerance towards plastic bags during the festival.
