Goa imposes fines up to Rs 10,000 for use of plastic bags

The government of Goa has decided to ban plastic bags with effect from July. Any person making, selling or carrying plastic bags can be fined up to Rs 5,000, while any person who is caught throwing plastic bags in public places will be fined up to Rs 10,000.

Goa is already following a ban on the use of plastic bags below 40 microns under the Goa Biodegradable Garbage (Controlled) Act 1996.

Shopkeepers and vendors also register themselves to provide plastic bags under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

To make Goa a Smart State, Parrikar has urged industries to use solar power instead of the conventional ones so that environment and power can be saved.

“The solar power plants will be classified in two categories, namely up to 100 KW with Low Tension connection and more than 100 KW with High Tension connection. The LT consumers will be feeding the power to the grid in gross metering basis, whereas the HT consumers will be compulsorily supplying power to the grid on net metering basis. Both the types of power suppliers will be paid at the JERC stipulated rates. The large solar installations solely for power sale will have to undergo bidding process for being competitive,” said State Secretary for Power Sanjay Goyal.

A presentation on commercialisation of solar installations and their maintenance was also made in front of the industrialists.