Kochi: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has tied up with a Start Up venture by a group of students of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) to take its anti-plastic campaign initiative to the next level. STICON, the Start Up venture of the students of Department of Ship Technology, CUSAT, will make large models of ships christened 'BOAT'LE', using disposed plastic bottles collected from public places and place them before metro stations.
"Basically it's an awareness programme to make commuters dispose of plastics safely and to minimize its use. The students will make a large model of a ship christened 'BOAT'LE', using plastic bottles collected from public places. The model is in fact a large container and will be placed near metro stations along the national highway. It contains written messages inviting the public to dispose of plastic bottles," said Shiva Prasad K, Associate Professor and Mentor.
Earlier, KMRL had set up three plastic bottle recycling machines at CUSAT, Changampuzha Park and Palarivattom metro stations as part of its go-green initiative. However, the response was not up to the expected level, forcing it to go for the popularization campaign. The bottles will be collected enmasse and handed over to a contractor who will use it for purposes like fillers while making road-tar.
"We exhibited a miniature model of 'BOAT'LE' at the recent 'Sastrayan' 2018 fest held at CUSAT and received a heart-warming response from students and visitors. The work of the 'BOAT'LE' has almost been completed and it will be placed before the CUSAT Metro station in a week. Posters will be pasted inside metro stations urging commuters to dispose plastic bottles in the BOAT'LE," said Anish Kumar MN, STICON Director.
While only 1100 plastic bottles could be disposed at the recycling machine placed before CUSAT station in the last seven months, nearly 500 bottles were crushed during the two-day exhibition held in the University. "With the awareness campaign receiving wide response, we plan to install a similar model at the CUSAT campus too with the nod of the authorities," he said.
