TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PORVORIM: In a bid to provide an alternative to plastic bags, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has decided to offer cloth bags to fish vendors and customers at nominal rates from August 2.
“Though the council has imposed a ban on use of plastic bags in the municipal market, fish and vegetable vendors and shopkeepers continue to use plastic bags, thereby defying the directives of MMC,” MMC Chairperson Sandeep Falari told Herald.
“The municipal inspectors seized the plastic bags from the fish and vegetable vendors many times, but in vain. It is not possible for MMC to depute inspectors in the market round-the-clock to keep a vigil on the fish and vegetable vendors,” said Falari.
“Hence, MMC has initially decided to introduce this scheme of cloth bags to the fish vendors to curtail the use of plastic bags and make market plastic free in the long run,” he said.
Falari further said the Directorate of Municipal Administration has identified some women self help groups who can supply cloth bags at cheaper rates. “The self help groups will supply these bags to MMC which in turn will sell it to the fish vendors and customers,” added Falari.
“If the fish vendors continue to use plastic bags even after introduction of the scheme, then they will be penalized. Once the schemes become successful, MMC will hold discussions with the Mapusa Merchants Association and offer this cloth bags to shopkeepers too,” said Falari.
