Ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5, a workshop themed around ‘beating plastic pollution and strengthening the environment’ was organised by the Forest department along with the Pollution Control Board, Jana Vignana Vedika, Vana Seva Society and Youth for Society organisations. Environment activists, academics, politicians and forest officials took part in the workshop.
Warangal Mayor N. Narender said the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation is waging war against plastic, but they were not getting enough support from citizens. “We have distributed five lakh dustbins to households asking them to separate dry and wet waste and give it to the GWMC garbage collectors. Many are not doing that. A recent survey revealed only two lakh of the five lakh dustbins are being used,” he noted.
Mr. Narender also pointed out that the ₹60 garbage tax being levied on the public was a meagre amount, but people were complaining about it.
Warangal West MLA Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar said the biggest threat to environment is plastic pollution and it is the duty of every citizen to reduce, if not entirely stop, the use of plastic products. “The usage of plastic in weddings has increased manifold over the years. Plastic-free weddings are the need of the hour,” he said, adding that he would soon hold meetings with owners of the function halls in Hanamkonda and ensure plastic is avoided as far as possible.
Conservator of Forests M.J. Akbar made a powerpoint presentation on the steps that could be taken to avoid plastic pollution and how the Hermitage office complex in Hyderabad was converted into a zero-waste building by the HMDA.
Environmental engineer from NIT, K.V. Jaya Kumar, Prof. A Ramachandraiah, Prof. Laxma Reddy gave presentations on the properties of plastic and how they affect the environment.
District Forest Officer K Purushotham administered the green pledge to reduce the use of plastic in daily life.
About 200 environment enthusiasts took part in the workshop.