In Karnataka, it’s the smaller civic bodies that are stepping up to enforce a plastic ban in their offices. A Government Order in September banning use of single-use packaged water bottles in offices has been wholly embraced in Shivamogga, Hubballi-Dharwad, Udupi, and a few other corporations.
In contrast, neither the State’s big city corporation, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) nor the heritage city’s Mysuru City Corporation have nudged themselves to fully implement the order.
In September, the government put out a blanket ban on use of plastic bottles in all government offices, boards, corporations and universities. But a check on most of the civic bodies in the State reveals that it’s a long road to implementation.
Shivamogga has set an example by using an RO (reverse osmosis) unit on its premises. Shivayogi Yeli, corporation official, said that stainless steel tumblers are being used by both the staff and the public visiting the offices. The corporation has also taken measures to avoid use of disposables by purchasing jugs and glasses. The offices of seven taluk panchayats and gram panchayats have been told to submit a compliance report on the order on plastic ban, officials stated.
The Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has stopped using packaged bottles and has also initiated the process of installing a RO system. Moving ahead, the corporation would be taking up sensitisation programmes against use of single-use plastic bottles in kalyan mantaps and auditoriums in the twin cities.
The Mangaluru City Corporation has invested in a plate bank which has steel tumblers, steel jugs, steel trays and steel containers. These were used for the first time during the council meeting on September 29. The office of the Deputy Commissioner has purchased 25 glasses to serve water during meetings.
But the green initiative has not taken root in the BBMP. Special Commissioner of Solid Waste Management D. Randeep said, “While paper cups have been allowed, it is still considered to be as bad as plastic cups, given that they are lined with plastic or wax, and recycling them is difficult. We are exploring other alternatives,” he said. The corporation is yet to decide on whether to use regular water filters or reverse osmosis (RO) systems with water dispensing taps in the offices. “This way, dependence on the 20-litre water cans will also come down,” he added.
It’s the same story in Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) where officials are still “exploring alternatives, such as serving water in glass bottles”. Yet, in its zilla panchayat, CEO K. Jyothi said water was being served either in glass or steel tumblers , apart from paper cups from the drinking water dispenser on its premises.
The two corporations that seem to be showing complete apathy to the ban are the Davangere Municipal Corporation and Belagavi City Corporation. In fact, Davangere Commissioner, Manjunath Bellary, claimed that they had not received any order on the ban.
Apart from issuing an order banning the use of packaged drinking water bottles, no other measures have been taken by the Belagavi City Corporation. Drinking water is purchased in 20-litre cans.
Udupi a step ahead with its ‘Green Protocols’
The Udupi Zilla Panchayat and the Deputy Commissioner’s offices have not been using plastic bottles for nearly two years now. The district administration had already implemented the order as part of the “Green Protocols” it had adopted.
The RO water filters have been installed at the zilla panchayat, Deputy Commissioner’s office, and at the Udupi City Municipal Council office as well.
Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner, said that the use of single-use plastic water bottles has been banned in all government offices, urban local bodies, and functions conducted by government departments here.
Meanwhile, a ‘Plastic-free’ campaign was launched in Karkala taluk recently. All the 34 gram panchayats in the taluk have already taken a decision in their gram sabhas to not use banned plastic items in their panchayat limits. The shops in all these gram panchayats are being encouraged to use cloth bags.
