Mahadevapura fights plastic menace

Bengaluru: Around 25 residents of Mahadevapura Zone came together in support of ban on use of plastic bags. Volunteers of Whitefield Rising visited dozens of shops on Borewell Road, creating awareness about plastic and Styrofoam menace. During the drive, BBMP officials seized disposable material from shops that were selling or using them despite the ban.

“This was the fifth such drive in Hagadur ward (#84) within a month. As part of this campaign, we educate traders about the banned items and available alternatives,” said Vaibhav Jain, Whitefield Rising volunteer. “Excessive use of plastic leads to land, water and air pollution. Tonnes of plastic reach landfills daily and contaminate our soil and surroundings,” he explained.

Meanwhile, BBMP officials and workers pulled down at least 100 illegal flex hoardings and posters between Whitefield Post Office and Nalurahalli junction. Residents cheered as the BBMP van carted away the hoardings of various sizes and hues; promoting apartments, pre-schools, PG accommodation, shops and politicians. “These are eyesores; flex is not reusable, it chokes the drains, and is against the letter and spirit of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” said a long-time resident.

It may be recalled that last Saturday around 50 volunteers of Swachch Doddanekundi Initiative and Whitefield Rising participated in a similar walkathon in Ward 85, creating awareness about plastic ban among shopkeepers and shoppers. BBMP officials seized about 50 kg of plastic from shops in the area during an enforcement drive.

“Single-use plastic is among the main contributors to the garbage woes of our city. Due to low recycle value, it invariably ends up on the roadside and in open drains, clogging them,” said Babita Saxena of Swachch Doddanekundi Initiative.