`Clean Lalbagh for a Green Lalbagh' campaign launched

Throwing plastic waste may land you in trouble

The Hindu

`Clean Lalbagh for a Green Lalbagh' campaign launched, violators to be punished

# Lalbagh attracts up to 15,000 visitors on weekdays and more on holidays
# The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has designated it a `plastic-free zone'
# Plastic and other non-biodegradable waste are causing a major disposal problem for the maintenance staff
# Tree wardens to be appointed to safeguard valuable trees

Bangalore: Throwing plastic waste or smoking inside the sprawling greens of Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, may soon land you in trouble. A gentle warning to start with and, afterwards, a stiff fine.

The Horticulture Department planned a "Clean Lalbagh for a Green Lalbagh" campaign to protect its ecology and, as a first step, invited environment-friendly citizens, the Friends of Lalbagh organisation, other non-governmental organisations to participate in the programme . The campaign was launched on March 3 by Director of Horticulture G.K. Vasantha Kumar.

The Lalbagh Gardens, originally planned and planted with rare trees by Hyder Ali, now possesses trees and plants collected from different continents and carefully nurtured. It attracts up to 15,000 visitors on weekdays and more on holidays and is a tourist attraction besides a meeting place for hundreds of fitness walkers of all ages every morning and evening. The well landscaped gardens, the carefully restored Glass House and the flower shows held twice a year and its serenity within a bustling city are its attractions.

"Due to the increase in the number of visitors, including tourists from other regions and overseas, the amount of plastic and other hazardous and non-biodegradable waste has caused a major disposal problem for the gardens maintenance staff," Mr. Kumar said. The amount of waste left behind has caused other problems too; the flooding of the lake inside the park after last year's record rainfall was due to clogging of many channels with plastic waste.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has designated Lalbagh a "plastics-free zone," but enforcement has been tardy till now. This has prompted the Horticulture Department to enforce some discipline among the visitors to the park.

The campaign now plans to strictly enforce the ban on plastics within the park and prohibit smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and spitting. It will also ban the sale of eatables and beverages in plastic containers and evict unauthorised hawkers.

Tree Wardens will be appointed to safeguard valuable trees, especially from vandals who carve graffiti on the trunks and the open spaces can no longer be used as playing fields.

Future plans include the use of only ecofriendly electric vehicles within Lalbagh.