MAPUSA: The Mapusa municipality is all set to make Mapusa city plastic-free by banning plastic carry bags from April 2. After conducting several awareness programmes against the use of plastic, the municipality would allow only plastic bags of over 40 micron thickness in Mapusa city from April 2.

Though, the municipality had planned to ban plastic from January 26, they had to postpone the plan since the municipality did not have adequate number of inspectors for smooth implementation of the ban.

With implementation of plastic ban from April 2, the municipality has decided to fine those violating the ban and confiscate unauthorised plastic material. The council has formed four teams consisting of four labourers and each team will be headed by the four market inspectors who will keep a check on the ban in the city.

However, the shop owners and street vendors who are willing to sell or transact in plastic bags will have to register themselves with the MMC by paying a registration fees of Rs 48,000 and only the registered once would be allowed to sell plastic bags in the city and if any person violates the rules, he or she will be fined up to Rs 1 lakh and may be imprisoned up to five years.

All the manufacturer, importers, distributors and sellers of plastic have been ordered to act in according to the provisions of Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016.

Chairperson of MMC Rohan Kavlekar said, “From April 2, plastic will be totally banned in Mapusa city and not only in the market and those who violate the ban, his stock of plastic will be confiscated. The ban was supposed to be from April 1 but since it is a Sunday, we will start the ban from April 2 and actions will be taken.”