Page 62 - Plastics News August 2019

IN THE NEWS

Goa likely to ban single-use plastic Anti-plastic drive across cities in
items Andhra Pradesh

oa is all set to bring in a law to ban manufacturing, trade istrict Collector and Vijayawada Municipal
Gand end use of single-use plastic The state government D&RUSRUDWLRQ 90& ·V 6SHFLDO 2IÀFHU $ 0G ,PWLD]
is looking to amend the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage has announced that the ‘Mana Vijayawada’, an
(Control) Act, for banning single-use of plastic in the anti-plastic drive for the city has been brought into
coastal state, Goa Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral told force from this month to make the city plastic-free.
WKH OHJLVODWLYH $VVHPEO\ 7KH 'HSDUWPHQW RI (QYLURQPHQW Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr.
has proposed an amendment to Goa Non-Biodegradable Imtiaz, along with VMC commissioner V. Prasanna
Garbage (Control) Act, for banning single-use of plastic. Venkatesh said the drive would start with awareness
This has been vetted by the Law Department and campaigns against single-use plastic for all stakeholders
elected to the LQ WKH FLW\ +H VDLG VRRQ D JD]HWWH QRWLÀFDWLRQ EDQQLQJ
place before the usage of single-use plastic items like disposable
legislative glasses, covers, water packets, milk packets and
assembly in others will be issued. Leaving no stone unturned to
WKLV VHVVLRQ take forward the drive against plastic in the city, the
Nilesh Cabral civic body is going to rope in ragpickers in an attempt
said, in his to weed out non-degradable plastic dumped in the
written reply city.The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, which
tabled during initiated ‘Mana Vijayawada’, the anti-plastic campaign
the ongoing has so far focused on shunning single use plastic items
monsoon and providing alternatives in association with several
session of the House. If everything goes according to
plan passage of a soon-to-be-tabled bill seeking to ban
manufacturing, import and sale of plastic carry bags and
VLQJOH XVH LWHPV ZLOO EH WKH ÀUVW VWHS LQ WKDW GLUHFWLRQ 7KH
Goa Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment)
Bill, 2019 proposes to make burning or improperly
GLVFDUGLQJ SODVWLF D SXQLVKDEOH RIIHQFH ZLWK ÀQHV UDQJLQJ
from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3 lakh for manufacturers and Rs 2,500
to Rs 50,000 along with imprisonment for individuals and
commercial establishments. The Bill has been cleared by stakeholders from colony associations to builders.
the cabinet and expected to be tabled this week. Any kind Further, in an attempt to remove the disposable plastic
of business or domestic use of the major pollutants like items that were already dumped or would be dumped
plastic carry bags and other plastic or styrofoam made in the city, the VMC is going to use the services of
FXSV VWUDZV OLGV FXWOHU\ FHOOR DQG SRO\ÀOP PHWDOL]HG ragpickers. A meeting with the representatives of the
ÀOP SODVWLF FHOORSKDQH SDSHU RWKHUV ZLOO LQYLWH VDQFWLRQV ragpickers community and families was conducted
once the Bill is passed.The Bill, however, exempts export by the VMC recently and they were asked to collect
oriented units or the ones in special economic zones non-degradable plastic items along with hard plastic
QRWLÀHG E\ WKH &HQWUDO JRYHUQPHQW SURYLGHG WKH\ GR and other recyclable items and hand over to the civic
not allow their products for sale and usage within the ERG\ 7KH 90& KDV LGHQWLÀHG PRUH WKDQ UDJSLFNHUV·
state of Goa. Environment minister Nilesh Cabral said the families in the city. The ragpickers also sought help in
government will take steps for proper implementation of sanction of houses under the government schemes and
the proposed law. HGXFDWLRQ IRU WKHLU ZDUGV WKH RIÀFLDO VDLG

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Plastics News August 2019 64