Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Udupi: There is no cost to the law unless government officials follow the laws set by the government itself. The use of plastics in the government offices and government programs in the district seems to be inadvertently. The system of eradication of plastic should start from government offices only, said Zilla Panchayat President Dinakar Babu.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Plastic Waste Free Movement (Jatha) program under the ’Srutta Hee Seva’ program held at the District Panchayat premises on Thursday, September 19.

All government departments should regulate the use of plastics in their programs by cutting down on the use of plastic bouquets. He said that the Jatha program would be held in 30 villages for 15 days at village level to raise awareness about cleanliness and disadvantage of the use of plastic in the district. Officials of the departments, educational institutions, school and college students hoped to make the district a top priority by participating in the voluntary survey.

G Jagadeesh, District Commissioner of Karnataka, who released the Cleanup Movement Pamphlet, said, "This is the first time Karnataka has taken the decision of the Plastic Ban. Yet we are failing to adequately implement plastic use regulations. There is no morality to tell the public if they are not aware of the law, only those who are aware of the plastic ban.

DC  said that although there is a penal system in place for the adequate implementation of plastic use and waste management, it is not properly maintained. Officials must follow the government’s orders properly. He issued a one-month deadline warning to those who use plastic and throw it in the sidewalk, and if the law is not enforced within the deadline, they will be charged with a criminal case.

Sheela K Shetty Vice President of Zilla Panchayat Panchayat said that everyone should take a vow not to use plastic. She said legislation should be imposed on those who do not adequately manage plastic waste; all Gram Panchayats should take great care of this and if possible, adopt the villages and make Udupi a plastic free district.

District Panchayat Education and Health Standing Committee President Babu Shetty, Social Justice Committee President Shashikant Padubidri, Z.P. Member Reshma Uday Shetty, Chief Executive Officer Preity Gehlot was present.

Chief Project Officer Srinivas Rao welcomed the gathering and proposed vote of thanks

 The event was followed by a street performance to raise awareness on cleanliness by the artists of the Ganeshpura Siddhi Vinayaka Yakshagana Board.