TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Government has proposed to impose stiff fines on those who fail to properly segregate and store non-biodegradable garbage from January next year. The fines range from Rs 5,000 and one month imprisonment for owners of residential houses and Rs 25,000 and imprisonment of six months for owners of commercial establishments who fail to comply.
Additionally, the Department of Science and Technology also wants to rope in the Tourism Department to create awareness among tourists, not to litter places they visit in the State. The Department of Science and Technology has amended its Goa Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1996, making it the duty of the owner and occupier to collect, segregate the non-biodegradable garbage generated within his/her premises and store it securely until it is handed over to the local authorities such as panchayats or municipalities.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had stated his intention to make Goa garbage free by December 2015.
Of the total 189 village panchayats, 131 VPs have already begun door-to-door collection, segregation and storage of waste.
“It is not 100 percent but the process has started in these panchayats,” Director of Science and Technology and Environment Levinson Matins said. The department will soon launch an awareness drive in the panchayats, municipalities and schools about garbage-free Goa and imposition of fines.
Martins said that on an average 70 to 80 tons of garbage is generated every month in these 131 VPs.
