MARGAO: Given the fact that Margao Municipal Council has been busy with other work and the drive against plastic carry bags was stopped, plastic carry bags have made a grand comeback in all the markets. Besides, now that monsoons are here, people selling plastic to protect the houses are also packing the purchased plastic in plastic carry bags.
Vendors selling rain wear whether it is footwear or raincoats very merrily pack the items in plastic carry bags and give them to the customer as there is no fear of the MMC officials raiding them for storing and giving away plastic carry bags.
The plastic carry bags have made a comeback in the SGPDA market too where the fish vendors would only hide them whenever the MMC staff would raid the market. While the fruit and vegetable vendors had stopped using plastic bags for some time, presently they pack the fruits or vegetables in plastic bags.
The meat vendors had never really stopped using plastic bags and the MMC staff had fined quite a few of them. Whether it is the mutton, beef, pork or chicken dealer, all use plastic carry bags.
The last inspection undertaken was on May 2 when 9 persons from SGPDA were fined for giving plastic carry bags and an amount of Rs 19,000 was collected from them.
MMC Chief Officer admitted that the drive against plastic carry bags has slackened. “We have been so busy with our routine work that the drive has suffered,” he admitted.
However, he disclosed that he would be seeking Goa State Pollution Control Board’s opinion on the new carry bags being promoted which has “I am not PLASTIC” boldly printed on it.
