Glass to replace plastic water bottles in govt offices

Soon, single-use packaged plastic water bottles will be banned in all government functions and events organised in government offices, including Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha.

The government will soon issue orders prohibiting single-use plastic water bottles. This is being done to curb the increasing plastic pollution. The proposal has been drafted by the environment department and the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR) is finalising it.

“The file has come to us and we are working on it,” Anjum Pervez, secretary, DPAR, told DH. Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar said he was keen on its implementation.

The environment department has quoted the recommendation of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), banning plastic use in government offices.

“It has been noticed that in the Assembly and Council, ministers drink water from a glass as plastic bottles are banned there. The idea is to extend it elsewhere. To start with, we have proposed to stop their use in government offices and functions held in government establishments. We have also proposed to implement the same in all government-run universities,” said an environmental officer.

The proposal states that certified Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifier, of not below BSI 2006 standards, should be installed and used. Water will be provided in glass to all those attending government functions.

“To spread the message on the hazards of single-use plastic, we should set a precedent. It is being done for the first time. Before announcing the proposal, it is being tried out in many government offices and in Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha since July. Bottled water and glasses have been kept at strategic locations for people to use,” the officer said. Many departments in IISc have got rid of plastic bottles.

The National Institute of Advanced Studies, Forest department and some corporate offices in Bengaluru have adopted the measure.