Panaji, Jun 24 (IANS): Plastic cups and other plastic cutlery will soon be banned from Goa government offices and functions conducted by the state government.

A circular to the effect will be issued later this week, a senior government official said, adding that chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar had given his consent to the move at a meeting of the Goa State Environment Protection Council called on Monday at the Raj Bhavan.

Goa Governor Mridula Sinha is the chairperson of the council.

"The governor during the meeting had suggested that the eco-friendly move would help drive home the message of cutting down on the use of plastic as far as government employees is concerned.

"The chief minister has accepted the suggestion and assured the governor that a formal circular to the effect would be issed this week," said the official, who was present at the meeting.

"To begin with, plastic cups, spoons and other forms of cutlery will be banned from use. More and more plastic and environment-unfriendly items will be added to the ban-list," the official said.