<< In 1998, environmental NGOs and citizens formed the Goa Environment Federation (GEF).
At the first GEF meeting in June 1998, the problem of plastic waste disposal was highlighted as a major environmental problem facing Goa by no less than five NGOs as well as several citizens in written submissions made before the Goa Environment Commission constituted by the GEF. Various PILs forced the problem of plastic waste disposal to be considered as a separate category from general garbage. It was during these proceedings that the Goa state government informed the court that it had notified on January 2000, a committee to look into all aspects of solid waste management in the state, including the relevant laws, and to produce a comprehensive report within three months outlining a scheme of action and various measures to be taken by the different authorities to deal with the problem. Regular meetings of the committee during the next three months, resulted in the finalisation of a report titled 'Solid Waste Management in the State of Goa' (SWM Report) which was presented to the court in April 2000. In July, the state Government informed the court that it had accepted the report and would immediately commence steps for its implementation. As a first step, the state Government took a decision to enforce the ban on use of plastic bags below 20 microns from August 15, 2000. *** The government sought time till December 31 to complete the steps necessary for full implementation of other aspects of the SWM Report which included: l A ban on the use of recycled plastic bags for food items; l Setting up of composting units to take care of biodegradable garbage; l Arranging for the disposal of non-biodegradable garbage to recycling plants outside the state; l Ensuring that Garbage Management Committees are set up in all panchayats and municipalities.*** >> Sunday Mid Day, September 11, 2005 Floriano, What was the outcome of the Court hearing on 26 Sep 05? Been eagerly scanning Goanet for your update. Believe the Government may be punished for *contempt of court* as the Government has broken it's assurance to the Court to ""complete the steps necessary for full implementation of other aspects of the SWM Report, by 31 December 2000"" Lawrence