No plastic use in HSR Layout from Jan 16

Greens, citizen activists tie up with BBMP for enforcement drive

Environmentalists and residents have joined hands with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to make HSR Layout completely free of plastic from January 16 onwards.

Days after launching Google maps that locate potholes and black spots in their locality, citizens, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and  environment groups have come together to end the use of plastic — below or above 40 microns — in the southeastern Bengaluru neighbourhood. They have given vendors, eateries and other commercial establishments time till January 15 to switch to alternatives or face penalty.

They have organised a walkathon and are distributing pamphlets to raise awareness among people.

Violators will be penalised during drives to be conducted by the Palike and citizen volunteers.
On Monday, a group of citizen volunteers visited 70 shops on Agara Road to spread the message. Nearly 250 outlets have been covered till date.

Kavitha Reddy, a resident who is associated with the environmental nonprofit Hasiru Mithra, said that it was the first time they had come together to check the use of plastic in HSR Layout. “We want to save environment and make our area a model locality in Bengaluru.”

Brigadier R S Murthy, a resident of HSR Layout Sector 2, said that it was the BBMP’s job to enforce the ban.

“It should launch an aggressive marketing campaign against the use of plastic,” he added.
1,900 kg plastic seized

BBMP Joint Commissioner, Bommanahalli zone, Muniraju, said that last year, the civic body had seized 1,900 kg of plastic of below 40 microns in Bommanahalli zone. “We will extend support to HSR Layout residents and cancel the trade licence of vendors if they continue to use plastic despite being warned and penalised,” he said.