Over the last 2 weeks, there has been a major awakening amongst the citizens of Bellandur to make the area a plastic free zone.
What has been the driving change ? The last few months have seen the garbage crisis blow out of proportions in Bengaluru city. Earlier, the city’s waste would be sent to the landfills in the neighbouring villages outside.
A few weeks back, HSR layout successfully initiated the campaign with a ban on all plastic carry bags. Taking the example further, a team of volunteers from Kasa Muktha Bellandur (KMB) have come forward. Many of these are on the steering committee of the Solid Waste Management Round Table (SWMRT), which includes experienced people such as S Ramakant and Kalpana Kar.
Hundreds of volunteers from Bellandur have come forward to embrace the change. Over the last 2 weeks, a team of 30 volunteers have been walking the streets of Green glen layout, talking to shopkeepers, tea stalls, supermarkets, restaurants etc. educating them about the harmful effects of plastics. The effects are visible on the ground- big establishments like MK Retail, Reliance & Food Palace have taken the cue and do not stock any single use plastics any more.
A fortnight ago, the residents had held a walkathon to ‘Ban Plastic Bags’ and for a plastic free Bellandur.
Nearly 300 residents came out on the streets to spread awareness of single use disposables. They walked from Kaikondrahalli lake to Green Glen Layout, covering a distance of about 2.5 kilometers.
“The volunteers went shop to shop and explained how to replace plastic with other alternatives. Already many big establishments like MK Retail, Reliance & Food Palace have switched over to alternatives and do not stock any single use plastics any more,” said Mukund, resident of Bellandur.
Bellandur Going Green; plastic-free zone
