Team Herald

PORVORIM:  In the next five months, from January 2020, the State government will begin imposing a hefty penalty on individuals and establishments for using plastics as the Bill banning manufacturing, sale and use of single-use plastic items and carry bags was passed in the  Assembly on Friday. 

The law also includes jail term for repeated offences committed for storing, using and burning plastic. The government on Wednesday had introduced The Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) (amendment) Bill 2019 that also seeks to ban the burning of non-biodegradable garbage in public places.

The Bill also has a new Section 3A, which seeks to prohibit manufacture, sale, storage and use of plastic carry bags and items made up of plastic/Styrofoam such as cups, straws, cutlery, cello, plastic cellophane paper, etc.  

For those involved in manufacture, sale, storage or use of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items, the violator would be fined Rs 50,000 for the first offence, Rs 1 lakh for the second and Rs 3 lakhs or imprisonment which may extend to three months or both for every subsequent offence.

If a violator is found violating the conditions set under the rule, Law Minister Nilesh Cabral said that a fine of Rs 2,500 is imposed for the first offence, Rs 3,500 for the second offence and Rs 5,000 or with imprisonment, which may extend to five days or with both, for every subsequent offence. Further, there will be a fine of Rs 10,000 for the first offence, Rs 20,000 for the second and Rs 50,000 or imprisonment upto one month or both, for subsequent offences when the offence is in relation to commercial establishments.

For those involved in burning non-biodegradable waste in public places, the Bill has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 in case of simple burning, Rs 25,000 in case of bulk burning for the first offence and for subsequent offences, Rs 10,000 for simple burning and Rs 50,000 for bulk burning.