Post-lunch, Lalbagh a mess

The 208th edition of Lalbagh flower show began on August 4 and will continue till August 15.

This time, the Horticulture Department and Mysuru Horticulture Society have dedicated the show to the Indian armed forces.

The show, at the Glass House, will also mark the 85th anniversary of Kannada film industry.

Metrolife spent a day at the show. Here’s what we found.

Plenty to see

Among the attractions are floral replicas of fighter jets, missiles, battle tanks and warships.

About 1.5 lakh Dutch roses were sourced from Ooty and Pune for each of these models.

A flora camera stand, made with 7,000 roses, is another attraction. A 45-feet long film reel, designed with colourful flowers, is also on display. The reel is made with 15,000 roses.

On sale at the stalls are plants, garden accessories, condiments and play items for children.

Garbage problem

When we visited the garden on Tuesday, it was full of school children and families.

Policemen were on duty all across the garden. BBMP staff were also working to ensure the garden was kept spic and span.

The problems began at lunchtime. Many students and families had brought their own food. Some bought lunch from the stalls inside Lalbagh.

While plenty of dustbins are placed throughout the garden, they started overflowing within minutes.

Students were dumping food waste, plastic bottles and plates around the trees, creating a mess. The school authorities around them didn’t seem to care.

Policemen who bought lunch from the stalls threw the used paper plates into the bins, which were again overflowing.

After a while, policemen started throwing waste around the dustbin area.

How to fix litter problem

Metrolife was impressed with the cleanliness maintained before lunchtime. Visitors and staff cooperated and kept it litter-free. But lunchtime changed the
scene completely.

Clean up frequently: While enough municipal staff are around, clearing the dustbins frequently, especially around lunch time, will ensure garbage doesn’t
pile up.

Teach kids: School authorities should ensure children are made aware not to litter.

Families, note: Picnicking families should keep in mind they must tidy up their areas once they are done.

Put up shelters: Temporary shelters would help visitors in case of rain, given the unpredictable weather this season.