You may have to pay a fine of up to Rs 5,000 for using plastic bags in Goa

Goa CM, Parrikar said the ban would be strictly implemented from July onwards

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Come July and people buying or seling plastic bags will have to pay a hefty fine of upto Rs 5,000, in Goa.

The drastic measure was announced by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday, as part of the government's efforts to keep clean the coastal state that lures visitors from all over the world.

Parrikar appealed to the people to inculcate the habit of carrying cloth bags while out on shopping, as it used to be the practice before plastic came in a big way.

"We need to do away with plastic bags. From July onwards if we find anyone selling or buying plastic bags he will have to pay the fine," he said at a function here.

"The fine won't be a meagre amount. It will be hefty. It might be upto Rs 5,000 (each time). We might give some relaxation in the beginning in terms of the amount of fine, but we are strictly going to implement the ban," he said.

Parrikar said the state government cannot perform if citizens behave irresponsibly.

"We expect the government to provide clean cities. However, we keep on throwing garbage on the roadside," he said.

The state government had taken up an initiative to clear the highways of the garbage piles, but they noticed that usually after the trash is removed, it resurfaces, he said.

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

Parrikar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' (clean India) initiative 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 about it and working for Swachh Bharat," he said.