Floral delight turns into eyesore

It was a sense of deja vu at the Lalbagh on Saturday, the venue of the Independence Day flower show.

The historical gardens was strewn with all kinds of garbage, just like it happens when the flower show is organised twice a year.

But then, the change this time was that a group of 40 students from New Horizon College near Marathahalli took the initiative to clean the premises.

They strove for four-five hours so that there was a semblance of order at the iconic park.
Students take initiative

Armed with broomsticks and dust masks, the students, along with the teaching staff collected over 16 bags of plastic bags, cups, plastic spoons and other waste.  The students cleaned up the Glass House, Rose Garden and other areas of the Lalbagh.

The students and teachers said that they saw just one garbage truck inside the Lalbagh to transport the trash in the garden.

“We spoke to the Horticulture department officials. One of them told us that the shortage of staff is hampering the garbage disposal process,” said R Bodhisatvan, principal of the college. Rahul R, a third year BCom student from the college, said that apart from vendors in the garden, youngsters are also to be blamed for the mess.

“No one volunteered to join our drive to clear the place of trash. The youth, particularly, were spotted throwing plastic covers on the ground despite the presence of dustbins. It would have been good had the Horticulture department imposed a fine on visitors or vendors littering the place,” he said.

J Gunavantha, deputy director, Horticulture Department, told Deccan Herald that they were making all efforts to keep the Lalbagh premises clean and that there are sufficient staff to deal with garbage disposal.

He said, “There are around 100 to 150 vendors here. We have been telling them not to dirty the place, but our appeals have fallen on deaf ears. We will clear all the waste by night.”

Dustbins not used

The vendors said that though there were sufficient dustbins placed inside the premises, people did not use them and instead litter the place with garbage.

“The vendors, especially those on the hillock inside the garden, are dirtying the place. Because of such people, even we are being blamed,” said Rajanna, one of the vendors.

Traffic woes on account of the flower show were lesser on Saturday, compared with Friday.
One of the traffic police officers from the Wilson Garden station said that 200-300 traffic police personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth movement of vehicles on roads in the area. The show, that began on August 8, concludes on Sunday.