MARGAO: Rumdamoll Davorlim panchayat has taken a bold decision to ban all kinds of plastic in the village from Monday and have employed a person to enforce the decision. The panchayat will also be providing an alternative to plastic carry bags by distributing eco-friendly cloth bags for shopping purpose.
Briefing media persons panchayat member Vinayak Volvoikar in the presence of Sarpanch Madhukala Shirodkar and five other panchayat members said the panchayat would be involving members of the Village Development Committee to not only implement the ban on plastic bags but also to distribute the cloth shopping bags tomorrow.
As the Sarpanch Safiya Bi Shaikh had a death in the family, the other six members were present for the media briefing. They informed that the panchayat at its meeting held on 28th February 2018 resolved to ban plastic in the village primarily because it was causing a lot of problems for the villagers.
“We have informed the villagers by moving a vehicle with a loud speaker and also through our door to door garbage collectors who have told all the households that carrying plastic shopping bags will be banned from March 12,” said Vinayak.
He also disclosed that any person found carrying plastic bags will be fined Rs. 100 to Rs, 400 while shopkeepers found giving plastic carry bags will be fined Rs. 5000 and added that the law empowers them to levy such fines and they have got the same sanctioned by higher officials.
“We have appointed one person who will be issuing the challans besides also taking care of the stray cattle and ensuring that there is a smooth flow of traffic and for all this the person will be paid a monthly salary by the panchayat,” he said.
He pointed out that many animals specially cattle have died due to consumption of plastic besides the fact that it chokes the drains and causing all kinds of hurdles in the village besides giving it a dirty look. “It was high time some action had to be taken against the plastic and that is why we have decided to ban its use,” he said.
He also disclosed that the door to door garbage collectors will collect segregated waste from 12th March and will carry the dry waste separated from the wet waste. “While the dry waste we shall send to the garbage treatment plant at Saligao, the wet waste we shall compost in the land demarcated for garbage management by the panchayat,” he said.
