LAWS, LAWS AND MORE LAWS... YET PLASTIC FLUTTERS WILDLY

By Frederick Noronha

PANJIM, June 28: Goa has been unable to implement its
Biodegradable Garbage Control Act of 1996, that was to have been
implemented eighteen months ago.

In Panjim, the state government says the law aimed at stopping
plastics and non-biodegradable wastes from ending up in public
drains, roads and fields depends on panchayats and municipalities
to be implemented.

"Regrettably the local authorities have so far not been able to
implement the act and rules satisfactorily," says the government,
which has placed this issue on the agenda for the seventh meeting
of the Goa Environmental Protection Council that meets at the Raj
Bhavan on June 30.

Various reasons like lack of funds, lack of manpower, and a lack
of garbage disposal sites "have been cited" for the non-
implementation of the law, say the state authorities.

Presently, the matter is before the Goa high court bench. Local
authorities (panchayats and municipalities) have been asked to
file they statements on the issue.

Recently, a 'high powered committee' was set up under the Revenue
Secretary to prepare a comprehensive report that aims to tackle
the solid waste management in the state. It awaits the
government's approval and implementation.

Officials argue that it is now "accepted" that the law should
contain provisions to offer financial incentives or
disincentives, to encourage biodegradable packaging or discourage
non-biodegradables.

Citizens across the state can see the impact of the non-
implementation of this law, and that of the proliferation of
plastic-bags: fields and roadsides are littered with plastics
that linger around for longer than your lifetime!

Official have argued for additional funds for managing bio-
degradable wastes. They note that this year's budget has
'contemplated' various measures which they say will generate
funds for environmental management. This could result in a
Plastic Containment Fund and a Beach Improvement Fund.

Recently, the state cabinet okayed a draft Bill to amend the law,
and include a clause to collect cess on plastic bottles used for
ubiquitous mineral water and soft drinks.

Also on Friday morning meeting's agenda is the issue of bio-
medical wastes. Way back in July 1998, the Central government
notified its management and handling rules for this purpose. It
is not clear what is the level of implementation in the state.

Other issues on the official agenda is the recycling of plastics.

"Recycling of plastic is presently carried out without any
control whatsoever and, as such, bags or containers made of
recycled plastic with potentially dangerous pigments or
colourants are used for packing food stuffs and beverages," say
officials.

Such bags and containers can release toxic substances,
contaminating the contents.

Rules on recycled plastic usage have been notified by the Centre
some months back. Under these, the State Pollution Control Board
has to enforce manufacture and recycling provisions. Meanwhile,
the district collector has to enforce rules on the use,
collection, segregation, transportation and disposal of plastics
or recycled plastics.

The state government is talking in terms of involving the public,
reputed NGOs and business houses.

Blaming the 'heavy pressure of development', the state now  that
there have been "expected detrimental effects" along the coastal
stretches of Goa. These "warrant close attention" say officials.

At the same time, the state is lobbying for a watering-down of
nationwide coastal zoning rules. It is arguing that villagers
like Ribandar, Betim, Dona Paula should be shifted from CRZ-III
to CRZ-II, to allow for higher density building activity.

Besides, the government is also working on a fresh demarcation of
the HTL (high-tide line) in Goa, through the National Institute
of Oceanography.

Meanwhile, in another development, the department of science,
technology and environment is working to build maps of the entire
Goa region at the 1:50,000 scale using satellite data and remote
sensing.

The Town & Country Planning Department Department and the Tourism
Department are working on a Regional Plan 2025 and a Tourism
Master Plan.

It may be recalled that the earlier Regional Plan was made
redundant by frequent changes in land use, partly as a fallout of
the real-estate boom and speculation that Goa has seen in the
'nineties. Earlier attempts to have a Tourism Master Plan in the
mid-eighties ran into controversy and rough weather.

Currently, the State Level Committee for CRZ Clearances, headed
by the CM, clears individual projects in the CRZ (coastal
regulation zone) area. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority
recommends modifications to the CZMP (Coastal Zone Management
Plans).

Official figures also inculcate that some 15 acquaculture farms
(covering almost 35 hactares) are within the CRZ, against 19
farms (43 ha.) which lie outside the CRZ. There is a strict
Supreme Court ruling on this issue.

In the last Goa Environment Protection Council meeting, concern
had also been raised about the state's riverine and estuarine
environment. Some areas, particularly around Divar, have been
badly affected by the breaching of bunds (riverside protective
walls around low-lying areas).

Officials concede that the five estuarine islands -- Chorao,
Capao, Jua, Divar and Cumbharjua -- face large-scale erosion due
to bund breaching. But some believe that the breaching may be
"deliberate so as to undertake clandestine pisciculture".

There is talk of a new law on this issue in official circles.

Panjim is also arguing for additional funds, including from the
Government of India, to prop up the current 50% subsidy for
maintenance of khazan-land bunds.

Goa officials argue that Goa already has a "total forest area" of
"around 33%" or roughly 1221 sq.km. It claims that Goa has a
total mangrove cover of 8 sq.km.

It is also conceded that there have been "a number of illegal
developments" along hill-slopes and in agricultural fields. The
role of official bodies has also come under scrutiny in this
regard. In a past meeting, objections had been raised to an
amendment  in the Town & Country Planning Act, that gave powers
to the Chief Town Planner to "authorise cutting of hills on a
case-to-case basis".

Such activities seem to get a fillip during official holidays,
officials say, pointing to careful planning of the culprits.

The "innate fear" of the public of likely pollution from large
industry as seen in the Meta Strips case, and air pollution from
mining ore transportation are some of the issues on the agenda
for this meet.

So are other problems caused by mining (deforestation, siltation
of drains and rivers, pollution of water bodies, depletion of
ground-water, socio-economic changes), a proposed Goa Ground
Water Regulation Bill, siting of industries and estates, more
finances for the State Pollution Control Board, and
"rationalising" the penal provisions of Goa's anti-smoking law.