Plastic bags below 50 microns banned

Panaji, May 30: Plastic bags below 50 microns will be banned from July in Goa and those selling it will be fined, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced on Tuesday.

"Initially the fine will be Rs 500 for those selling the bags or those found littering. Subsequently, the fine will be raised to Rs 5,000," Parrikar told the media here on Tuesday.

He also added that Plastic bags are the main cause of choked drains in Goa and there was an urgent need to crack down on its excessive use.

Mr. Parrikar said thin plastic has a tendency to cause flooding by chocking drains, and can easily travel by wind and water in flood planes, thus increasing the flooding of public places during rains.