Ooty ban on paper, plastic cups puts tourism in spot

Ooty: Tipplers in the hills are in a fix, while hoteliers are fuming as the sudden ban on disposable paper/plastic tumblers/cups and plastic wrappers/ covers used for parceling in hotels in the hills have begun to see voices of protest.

After Nilgiris district collector Ms. J. Innocent Divya's pre-Deepavali announcement banning disposable paper/plastic tumbler/cup and plastic wrapper/cover, now raids are being conducted by the officials to seize the banned items still stocked up in the hotels/bars and other places.  That has put traders and tipplers in a quandary.

The one-day strike on Wednesday by bars attached to the State-run liquor retailer, Tasmac shops reflected the protest.  The bar owners felt that using paper tumbler in the bars would in no way affect the health of the consumer as there is no case of wax coated in the tumbler getting melted while pouring liquor. 
“Moreover tipplers in the bars insist on paper tumblers, as they feel that the disposable tumblers in the bar is hygienic,” a bar owner said and added that the ban decision  should be reconsidered.

Whereas Mr. N.Chandrasekar, secretary of Nilgiris Hotels and Restaurants Association, said that the district administration in Nilgiris was very hasty in banning the disposable paper cups and plastic covers, without making perfect alternative for them.  “How can we parcel food for tourists without plastic cover/wrapper.  Can we ask the tourists to bring vessels with them?  This ban should be reviewed to help the hoteliers to use recyclable plastics,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Mr.S.Jayachandran, joint secretary of the Tamil Nadu Green Movement, said that district administration should take steps to introduce palm leaf tumblers/cups and also areca leaf tumblers/ cups as suitable alternatives and to ensure eco-friendly approach to items of daily use.