Team Herald
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council on Wednesday restarted its drive against plastic carry bags in the market by raiding the SGPDA market and booking 9 cases and collecting fines of Rs 19,000. It may be recalled that MMC had clamped down on plastic carry bags in the market last month however following an appeal by fish vendors they were given one month’s time to use alternate bags.
However even today the fish vendors and even vegetable and fruit vendors were seen using plastic carry bags. However, the moment the MMC officials arrived on the scene the plastic bag were hidden and the non-woven cloth bags were brought out. Incidentally the officials first went to the vegetable market giving time to the fish vendors to hide their plastic bags.
Even then the five member team found 9 violators. The team was led by Assistant Engineer Uday Desai, Market Inspector Hassina Begum and Sanitary Inspectors Viraj Arabekar and Sanjay Samarelkar.
Since 2nd April when the drive had started till date MMC has booked 100 cases and collected Rs 1,03,500 by way of fine.
Today at the SGPDA market the fish vendors very confidently said they have been given permission to use the plastic bags. However, when MMC officials came they were heard arguing with them to close down the factories manufacturing the plastic carry bags instead of targeting them.
The vendors were not confident of the new bags and feared that fish may fall out of it. The alternate bags recommended are cloth bags that are pressed and hence called non woven bags.
