Team Herald
MARGAO: Rumdamoll-Davorlim Panchayat at its meeting besides deciding to appoint a person to monitor who is using plastic carry bags in the village, decided to also ask the police personnel to use their powers to act against those causing nuisance by using plastic.
The panchayat has declared a ban on plastic carry bags within its jurisdiction and decided that any individual carrying plastic carry bags be fined between Rs 100 to Rs 500 while shops distributing plastic carry bags will be fined Rs 5000.
At the meeting today it was decided to engage one person who will move around the village to check who is using or distributing plastic carry bags. The person will be paid wages of Rs. 300 per day for doing this work. Besides the panchayat members will also monitor the use of plastic carry bags in the village and specifically in their respective wards.
“The person will be asked to take a photograph of the person with the plastic carry bag and submit it to the Secretary who will then issue the challan for the fine to be paid,” said Avita. The panchayat members have also been asked to follow a similar procedure.
Panchayat member Smiulla Faniband suggested using the police force given the fact that the police outpost is housed in the panchayat building as police too are empowered to penalize people creating a nuisance with plastic.
While the panchayat members have distributed 800 cloth bags to the households in the panchayat another 1,500 bags are ordered which will be distributed to those who did not receive the bags in the first round.
“The response so far is very good and we see a lot of people going to the market with the bags that we game them,” said Avita while adding that even shopkeepers have stopped giving plastic bags and many have put signs saying there will be no plastic carry bags given.
Rumdamoll Davorlim is the first panchayat in Salcete to declare a war on plastic carry bags and the panchayat members are determined to make it a success.
