Goa: Anti-plastic bill tabled, fines up to Rs 50,000 mooted

PORVORIM: The Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Amendment Bill that aims to curtail the plastic menace by restraining the use, manufacture and sale of plastic bags, was tabled in the Goa Legislative assembly on Wednesday.
Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral tabled the bill that has provisions to heavily penalise violators.
The amendment bill will have a new section 3A, to prohibit the manufacture and sale of plastic carry bags and items made of plastic/styrofoam such as cups and straws.
Burning of non-biodegradable garbage in public places has been banned under this bill, and will attract a penalty if violated.
Dumping plastic waste in public places has been proposed to be made a punishable offence. The definition of plastic bags has excluded bags that form an integral part of the packaging in which goods are sealed prior to use.
Manufacture or sale of plastic bags will attract a penalty of Rs 50,000 for the first offence, Rs 1 lakh for the second offence and Rs 3 lakh or imprisonment extendable upto three months, or both for any subsequent offence.
For contravention of section 3 A (2), that is usage or throwing of plastic bags in the open, a guilty person shall be liable to pay Rs 2,500 for the first offence, Rs 3,500 for the second offence and Rs 5,000, with a five-day imprisonment or with both, for any subsequent offence.
The penalty applicable to any commercial establishment violating section 3 A (2) will be Rs 10,000 for the first offence, Rs 20,000 for the second offence and Rs 50,000 or with imprisonment which may extend to one month or with both, for every subsequent offence. Burning of non-biodegradable waste will attract a fine of Rs 5,000 in case of simple burning. For any subsequent offence, the fine will be Rs 10,000. Bulk burning of waste will attract a penalty Rs 25,000 and for subsequent burning Rs 50,000 or with imprisonment which may extend upto a period of five days or with both.