Plastic bags and bottles are strewn all over the city. But some organisations are working to make some areas in the city plastic-free.
However, we have a long way to go. One such plastic-free zone in the city is the HMT Watch Factory area. The residents here have taken an initiative to avoid using plastics bags and other plastic materials. Today, that initiative has become a huge success with many people adhering to the concept.
Speaking about the HMT Factory area, Bandita Poojari, a resident of Banashankari who visited the area recently, said, “The area is completely free from litter and stray dogs. The lush greenery makes one feel that he/she is in a different territory altogether.
Benches are installed on either sides of the road for the senior citizens.Cleanliness is well maintained. Why can’t such initiatives be taken in other parts of the city?” Meanwhile, R Narayana Swamy, corporator of Jalahalli Ward, said that we have to spread awareness on the consequences of plastic usage among people.
He added, “We are yet to take many such initiatives in our ward. The support from the residents in HMT Watch Factory area has set an example for others to keep the city clean by avoiding the use of plastic.
Even, shopkeepers should join hands by discouraging the use of plastic and encourage people to use paper and cloth bags.
” A similar initiative was launched in some blocks of Jayanagar over two years ago but the campaign to make it plastic-free tapered off. Many NGOs and resident welfare associations had come together to say ‘no’ to plastics.
Residents of this area opine that the campaign could not be sustained in wake of noncooperation by many sectors including consumers, retailers, food joints, vegetable and fruit vendors. However, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) which uses three lakh plastic bags per year has recently switched over to eco-friendly bags.
All food and beverage outlets as well as retail concessionaires on the 4,000- acre premises, will now offer cloth or paper bags in place of plastics, reinforcing its commitment to green living.
BIAL spokesperson told City Express that the initiative was planned for over two months.
She added, “As we have a huge committment towards our society and the environment, many pro-active green efforts have been undertaken.
” When City Express interacted with environmentalist Yellappa Reddy, he said the government officials should raid the place of manufacture and seize the plastic materials or impose fines on them.
“Secondly, it is the responsibility of every citizen to pledge to avoid the usage of plastic bags,” he said. It is high time the citizens woke up to the problem of disposal of nonbiodegradable materials like plastics and realise the serious consequences on the environment.