Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to ensure ‘green Onam’, bans plastic bags

Thiruvananthapuram: With Onam -the most awaited festival season - only a few days away the City Corporation is chalking out plans for the elaborate enforcement of 'green protocol' during the week-long celebrations.

 Last year, the civic body enforced green protocol at all 30 venues in the state capital. This year, the authorities are planning to deploy green army members at all venues to enforce the green protocol.

Mayor V.K. Prasanth said that the Onam week celebration is a platform for the civic body to bring awareness among the public on the harmful effect of single-use plastic, especially carry bags. "Nisagandhi is one of the prime spots where the crowd gathers. We are planning for plastic arrest campaign at the venues. Green army volunteers would confiscate plastic carry bags and distribute cloth bags," said the Mayor.

 He said that plastic would be banned at all venues hosting Onam week celebrations.

"Green army volunteers would be deployed at all venues," he added.

 The civic body has recently opened cloth bag manufacturing units to make available alternatives for plastic carry bags. The civic body has convened a meeting on Friday to finalise the plan for enforcing green protocol.

The tourism department would be organising celebrations and cultural events at all 30 venues in the state capital. Kanakakunnu, Veli, Varkala, Shangumugham and Kovalam are among the venues where people gather in large number to witness the annual extravaganza.

 The week-long onam celebrations would be celebrated from September 3 to 9.