Team Herald
PANJIM: With the ban on use of all plastic bags with less than 50 microns coming into force from April 1, vendors as well as shoppers are beginning to find it difficult to cope with the change.
Herald spoke to traders and vendors at the Panjim market to find out how successful the shift from plastic to other materials has been. Traders revealed that in the last two days they have shifted to wrapping items in paper which has allowed them to save an additional Rs 80 which they spent on purchasing plastic bags.
While some vendors said they support the ban on plastic, some said it would be impossible to enforce a complete ban due to the lack of better alternatives. However, meat and fish vendors said they cannot use paper or cloth bags as they either get torn or spoilt and claim that plastic bags are a must until there is an alternative.
Many shoppers were also spotted with their own cloth bags while others were seen accepting their purchases wrapped in paper. Imtiaz, a vegetable vendor, said he has switched to cloth bags but they cost about Rs 10 a piece. “Only 30-40 percent shoppers bring their own bags to the market. I cannot afford to give cloth bags for free and nobody likes to pay the extra amount. We small vendors cannot afford to pay Rs 48,000 annually.”
Another fruit vendor on the basis of anonymity said, “Currently I use paper to wrap fruits but for large quantity it becomes almost impossible. Although a large number of people have started bringing in their own bags, a sizable number of people come to shop without bags.”
Some traders suggested penalising plastic bag sellers and manufacturers instead. “Even if some hawkers stop providing the plastic bags, customers prefer those hawkers who do provide. No hawker wants to lose their customers.”
However, chicken, mutton, and fish vendors expressed dissatisfaction claiming that without plastic bags it is nearly impossible for them to sell their wares.
“We oppose the Rs 48,000 annual charge, it is too much. Most of our profit will go into those fees. We are not saying do not charge but take some minimal fee. Until and unless there is an alternative, they should allow us to use plastic,” a meat trader said.
Panjim Mayor Vithal Chopdekar said the corporation cannot take any decision to revert these annual fees as it has come from the Central government. “It is the decision of the Central government. We have requested all shop owners to charge a fee per bag as is done is supermarkets and stores,” Chopdekar said.
