Begur residents begin work to make ward plastic free

Following their campaign to make the BBMP repair all the roads in the ward, the Residents' Welfare Associations in Begur are now working hard to make it plastic free.

Eight months ago, the RWAs collaborated with the Palike to plug the potholes on the roads, besides cementing damaged footpaths. Now, as part of the Swachh Bharat mission, they conduct awareness campaigns on the ill effects of using plastic.

Residents, including several children, held roadshows over the past two months. "We've also distributed pamphlets to all commercial establishments, highlighting the ill effects of plastic. Moving forward, we are planning to undertake plogging (a combination of jogging and picking up litter) frequently, besides collecting plastic waste when we go for a walk or jog," said K Prakash, president, Beautiful Begur Federation.

The RWAs also got the Cauvery water connection to the ward recently, following repeated petitions to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. "We have been using borewell water till now and are happy that the BWSSB has laid out pipelines for the Cauvery water connection," said Mamatha S, a resident on Begur road.

Mamatha said the civic body is putting off the work to re-lay the dug up roads, which is making life difficult for commuters.

The RWAs also have grand plans to tidy up the lakes in Begur. "We will conduct a clean-up drive in the Singasandra Lake soon. We will plant saplings and clear the garbage in the lake bund," Prakash said.