New Delhi: Extending his greetings to Goans on Independence Day, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar requested people to help make the state plastic free by 2020.. He said there the journey to a plastic free state needs to have a collective approach (between government and citizens). In May the government had imposed a ban on plastic bags of below 50 micron (thickness) with an effect from July onwards.
“Today let’s resolve to make Goa a plastic-free state. The state government has already imposed a ban on bags of below 50 micron (thickness). The implementation of the ban would be done soon,” he said. He further added “If we all decide that we will not use plastic or will not use plastic bags of below 50 micron, then we can work towards a plastic-free state.”
The Chief Minister also said merely banning plastic bags won’t solve the crisis; a behavioral change needs to be brought in. He said that the age old habit of using plastic bags to throw garbage and discarding it onto the roads needs to be changed. A habit of carrying a cloth bag instead of a plastic one needs to be inculcated among people. As per the ban imposed, if anyone is found selling or buying plastic bags then a hefty amount of upto Rs 5,000 will be charged.
On August 10, the National Green Tribunal banned use of plastic bags of less than 50 microns in Delhi and anyone found in possession of non-biodegradable plastic bags would be slapped with a fine of Rs 5,000. As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the use of plastic bags under 50 microns and plastic used for packaging gutkha, tobacco and pan masala is prohibited across the country.
On August 9 Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan had informed the Lok Sabha that 17 states and Union territories have already imposed a complete ban on manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags. Plastic bags are partially banned in various pilgrimage centres, tourist and historical places located in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand the Minister informed.
Also Read: Recycling Plastic In India: Converting Plastic Waste To Fuel, The Unrealised Potential
With Inputs from PTI
Krishnan
August 22, 2017 at 6:55 pm
Guwahati has made tremendous improvement in general cleanliness. Still a long way to go. But the improvements are discernible. General cleanliness standards in the city and areas like Kamakya temple are heartening. Keep it up, Guwahati citizens and the administration. Cities like bangalore which seems to be going from bad to worse with garbage dumps all over the city can take a leaf out of Guwahati.