times news networkPanaji: After the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act was amended to bring in stricter norms, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has begun work of developing a portal to monitor the generation, transportation and grant of authorisation to move non-biodegradable waste. As per the amendment to the act, metal, multi-layer plastic, rubber, glass, wool, fiber reinforced plastic, tetra packs, leather, wood used for packaging, corrugated boxes, jute are all classified as non-biodegradable.Until now, the GSPCB registered waste collectors handling waste from industrial and commercial establishments. But a recent high court order on waste handling meant that this waste was outside the purview of the judgement. The order required regulation of activities of waste collectors engaged by panchayats, municipalities and other local bodies.Accordingly, the Board had resolved to initiate de-registration of waste collectors engaged in industrial and commercial establishments had keep only those engaged by local bodies.Subsequently, the Board received a communication from the environment department drawing attention to the amendment to the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act which specifically mandates that all waste collectors, recyclers and co-processors should be registered on an online portal for the state.The amendment also said that the Pollution Control Board should authorise this waste disposal.The amendment has also introduced stricter penal provisions under Section 5C for vehicles involved in the illegal dumping of waste.The GSPCB at its recent meeting therefore decided that an e-tender be floated for the development of a portal to monitor the generation, transport of non-biodegradable waste and grant of authorization will be issued on a revenue sharing model.The Board also decided to formulate a procedure for the registration and authorization of Waste Collectors.The Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act amenendment has significantly expanded the scope of regulated waste by inclusion of 13 additional categories of non-biodegradable waste in the schedule.As per the amendment the vehicle involved in illegal dumping of waste can be impounded by the concerned police station, the driving license of the driver can be suspended for one month, and a fine of Rs 25,000 can be imposed.For the second offence, the amendment provides for suspension of the driving license for three months along with a fine of Rs 50,000.A third offence means suspension of the driving license for six months along with a fine of Rs One lakh and subsequent offences will lead to permanent cancellation of the vehicle’s license.GFXGoa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) ActExpanded the scope of regulated waste by inclusion of 13 additional categories of non-bio-degradable waste in the scheduleMetalPaperMulti-layer PlasticRubberGlass WoolFiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP)Glass FiberTetra PacksLeatherWood used for packagingCorrugated boxesJute and woven bags
