Panaji (Goa): Those who will be found buying or selling plastic bag in Goa will be fined heavily from July onwards, State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said today announcing the stringent measures to make the coastal state plastic free.

“We need to do away with the plastic bags. From July onwards if we find anyone selling or buying plastic bag he will have to pay the fine,” Parrikar said addressing a function here today.

“The fine won’t be a meager. It will be hefty. It might range up to Rs 5,000 (each time). We might give some relaxation in the beginning in terms of amount of fine, but we are strictly going to implement the ban,” the chief minister said appealing people to make a habit of carrying cloth bags in the markets, like what they used to do in the past.

Parrikar said that the state government cannot perform if citizens behave irresponsibly, so it is the time for the people to be responsible themselves. “We expect the State government to provide clean cities. However, we will keep on throwing garbage at the roadside,” he commented.

The chief minister said that the state government has taken up initiative to clean up highways from the garbage piles, but it is noticed that soon after the trash is lifted, the heap resurfaces again.

“We have now provided work stations to collect garbage on the highways. I appeal people to hand over their garbage at these work stations rather than just throwing it along the roadside,” he said.

Parrikar said that the concept introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about ‘Swatchch Bharat’ is picking up across the country. “There were certain elements who initially mocked the concept, but if you see now, the people have started talking and working for Swatchch Bharat,” he said

Team TNV