DC seeks people's support to curb plastic menace

Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri has sought people’s support to curb the plastic menace.

The DC was addressing a gathering, after inaugurating an awareness programme about alternatives for plastics, organised by Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), at Devaraja Market here, on Wednesday.

"Mysuru is a clean city and it should be plastic-free, as early as possible. Disposing of waste plastic is a challenge. Despite policies against the use of banned plastic items, people are not following the rules. Single use plastics are banned. But, the implementation needs to be done effectively. Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, no strict measures like raids were taken out. Citizens must stop using banned plastic on their own. The plastic will last for 1,000 years and it is said that plastic is more dangerous than nuclear and people should be aware of the adverse affects of plastic," she said.

The DC said, "The products made out of plastic, by recycling them, have been displayed. It is our duty to create awareness among the citizens about the effect of plastic. Meanwhile, people should be cautious and should not use plastic in their houses."

The DC said that Mysuru would emerge as the cleanest city again, with more citizens' participation in 'Swachh Survekshan 2021', the sixth edition of the annual cleanliness survey. “We will be on top, if more people participate in the survey, by giving their feedback. The city is famed as ‘Cultural Capital’. It also emerged as cleanest city. Now, we want to retain the tag and the MCC is making all efforts in this regard,” she said.

Humorist Krishnegowda, also brand ambassador for Swachh Mysuru, said, "Plastic, which was a solution for many problems, has turned into a problem now. Plastic will not be a problem, if we, humans, use it responsibly. Use of plastic minimised the use of metal. But, now, plastic has turned into challenge, as we used them irresponsibly.”

MCC Health Officer Dr D G Nagaraju said that Mysuru had emerged as the Cleanest City in 2014-15 and ranked top among the cities with a population between 3 lakh and 10 lakh in 2020. He called the people to participate in a large number in 2021 survey. The MCC is working with organisations and institutions to reuse plastic. People’s participation and cooperation is much required for it, he said.

Mysuru Makkala Koota and Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara school students performed a street-play to create awareness against the use of plastic. The authorities also distributed cloth bags to the vendors at Devaraja Market.