Team Herald
PANJIM: As the State makes wearing of masks in public places mandatory from Monday, Minister for Waste Management Michael Lobo has urged the State to ban the sale and use of medical mask by pharmacies to general public claiming that being medical waste, its disposal becomes difficult.
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Lobo called on CM Pramod Sawant with the demand to ban the medical masks and to restrict its use only to doctors and nurses in the hospital. Speaking to media persons post meeting, Lobo added that the department of Science and Technology, through the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will issue necessary directions banning the sale and use of medical masks by pharmacies to general public.
He said on an average 300-400 medical masks are collected and being dumped at garbage treatment site at Saligao. “But we don’t have medical waste treatment facility there. We don’t have the incinerator. It is only available at GMC,” he said.
Lobo also said that the mask being single-use, people are seen throwing it on roads, rivers, etc, which is harmful to the environment as well as for humans.
“People should go for washable or reusable masks,” he advised.
In view of COVID-19 pandemic, the govt has made wearing of mask mandatory in public and work places.
