Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday announced that the State government would implement a complete ban on plastic bags from May 30 next year onwards. Parrikar also said that steps are being taken to make Goa garbage free by next Liberation Day.
“From May 30 next year, there will be complete ban on plastic bags in the State. We are making this announcement in advance so that all those who have made it as their economic activity or are dependent on it, should not complain at the last minute,” Parrikar said, while addressing the gathering on Liberation Day.
“The ban will be fully implemented not only on the plastic bags but also on other plastic items,” Parrikar added.
He said that Swachh Bharat and Nitoll Goem are the priorities of the State government for which the necessary steps are being taken.
“The State will be garbage-free by December 19 next year. The initiative to make Goa garbage-free has already begun. The Solid Waste Management Corporation is in place and State has set up a state-of-the-art garbage treatment plant at Saligao and is planning to set up another three such plants,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that laws required to make Goa a garbage-free State would be notified January 26 next year onwards. Also approval has been given to increase grants to panchayats to take up the work of garbage collection.
“The State’s economy is also totally dependent on cleanliness, if we keep our surrounding and beaches clean, we will have more tourists coming to our State and if we want the tourists to come back, we should keep our State and place clean,” he added.
Parrikar also said that infrastructural works worth Rs 25,000-30,000 crore would be implemented in the State during next five years which includes the under-construction bridges across Rivers Mandovi and Zuari.
