Pulling out all stops to push Bellandur to give up plastic

Citizens are taking the plastic ban seriously, at last. After Yelahanka, HSR Layout, Sanjaynagar, Basavanagar and Koramangala showed the way, other localities are following suit. Awareness drives are the tool for this campaign and soon, Bellandur joins the list of plastic-free areas. 

Members of the Bellandur plastic ban campaign are creating awareness among vendors and residents in and around the locality. Kickstarting the campaign, around 350 volunteers held a 2.5-km walkathon on February 5, from Kaikondrahalli Lake to Green Glen Layout. 

The plastic ban, which will come into effect on February 20, will be applicable for the entire Bellandur locality including Sarjapur, Haralur and Bellandur village.

Sheela Shah, a volunteer from Kasa Mukta Bellandur (KMB) - garbage-free Bellandur, said that the proposal was mooted by citizen activists after the drive was launched in HSR Layout.

“Members of KMB and volunteers came together and held a campaign to spread awareness. Our focus is to curb single-use plastics - covers/bags, cups, plates, spoons and others - from February 20. The ban will be implemented with help from the BBMP,” said Shah. Two other volunteers Shilpa Singru and Valli Srinivasan are part of the drive.   

Jagannath K, former president of the Bellandur Grama Panchayat, said that the plastic ban would help in curbing environment pollution at Bellandur lake. He said that the catchment area of the lake, specially, has turned into a dumping yard of sorts with plastics and other waste strewn around. 

Odette Katrak, a resident and volunteer, said, “There is a urgent need for the plastic ban and we residents welcome it. The drains in Green Glen Layout are choked with plastic bags. Hopefully, this brings a much-needed mindset change among both users and shopkeepers that plastics, particularly one-time use plastics, should never be used.”