The state has been fighting the plastic menace since 2000 but all its efforts have failed to yield the desired results. More than a year ago, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced that plastic bags below 50 microns would be banned in the state from May 30, 2018. Accordingly, the CCP and the Margao and Mapusa municipal councils joined the government efforts to make Goa plastic free. The authorities directed the shopkeepers who wanted to dispense items in plastic bags after the ban came into effect to register themselves with the government. The authorities made the shopkeepers pay a monthly fine of Rs 4,000 or an annual fine of Rs 48,000. The justification for levying fees was to discourage use of plastic, which was hazardous to environment as it was not biodegradable. However, following opposition from shopkeepers the idea was dropped for the time being. But a ban was imposed by the CCP from October 2 with major penalties. With fines imposed on errant shopkeepers, the ban is being strictly observed in the market. However, the vendors at the Lokutsav, many of whom are from outside the state, are using plastic bags and there is need for the CCP authorities to act to stop that.
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Category: Plastic, Regulatory, Human health, Environment, Hazardous Substances