Srisailam temple management to enforce plastic ban

The management of Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Srisailam decided to strictly implement the ban on single-use plastic in the town. In its renewed efforts to implement the ban, the temple authorities have involved locals, management and local businesspersons by creating awareness on single-use plastic ban.

Srisailam temple executive officer (EO) M. Srinivasa Rao said single-use plastic has been banned in the temple town as a step towards preserving environment and protecting wild animals. Mr. Srinivasa Rao said meetings were held with the stakeholders involved in implementation of the ban, and experts, and they were given information on the ill-effects of plastic use, and also on the alternatives for plastic.

“The use of plastic water bottles, plates, glasses, spoons, forks, and cups has already been banned in the temple town,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.

Meanwhile, the EO, in an interaction with the stakeholders, asked the local businesspersons to use clay, steel or brass bottles for water instead of plastic bottles. “Carry bags made of paper, jute or cloth should be used instead of plastic. Similarly, plastic plates should be replaced with banana leaves, steel plates or a leaf plate. The managements of various choultries and those staying in them must be made aware of the same,” he said. He said that more than 30 free RO plants had been installed in the temple town for devotees to desist from purchasing plastic water bottles.

For better waste management, the EO insisted that the choultries, shopkeepers, and hoteliers should keep two separate dustbins — one for dry and another for wet waste — mandatorily.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the indiscriminate disposal of plastic was leading to soil and groundwater pollution and also leading to death of wild animals sometimes. The disposal of plastic is clogging drains, leading to unhygienic conditions and spread of diseases, he added.

“The Revenue and Vigilance officials will be conducting inspections and imposing penalties on those who use banned plastic material in the temple town,” he said.