Bengaluru: It’s official. The Visvesaraya Technological University (VTU) has banned the use of single use plastics on the campuses of all its 219 affiliated engineering colleges and regional university campuses at Mangaluru, Mysuru and Kalaburagi.
University Registrar Prof A.S. Deshpande issued the circular last month, directing institution heads to implement the plastic ban, following directions from the vice-chancellor and an advisory from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council of Technical Education (AITCE).
The UGC and AICTE had directed VTU to cut down plastic pollution and to spread awareness among students on the ill-effects of plastic.
Authorities have been told to replace plastic cups and glasses at canteens and hostels with steel ones, discourage the use of plastic drinking water bottles, cups, straws, plates and spoons at all hostels and special events. Students have been asked to refrain from bringing plastic tiffin boxes.
Colleges have to keep a strict vigil on students and conduct surprise checks at student hostels, canteens and other public places on the campus. Principals should encourage students to invent and introduce alternatives to plastics like cloth bags, it stated.
Students should be made aware of and discouraged from using takeaway plastics, lunch wrapped in disposable plastic packaging, straws bottles, disposable food service cups and plates and plastic bags.
“All engineering colleges should have a plastic menace control committee, which should conduct surprise checks on the campus, hostels and canteens. If any institution is found to be violating the plastic ban, strict action will be taken against managements,” said Prof A.S. Deshpande, Registrar, VTU.
