Kannur: A golden gift awaits those who conduct simple marriages in Mattannur municipality. With marriages becoming expensive and luxurious affairs these days, the municipality has decided to curb the trend and encourage environment-friendly and plastic-free weddings in its limit.
The municipality will inspect the marriages and select the best one conducted according to the guidelines. Two sovereigns of gold will be presented to the winning family at a public function. Events like engagement and reception will also come under the scanner of the judges.
The civic body will evaluate the marriages conducted between January 10 and 31 on a pilot basis. According to the guidelines, the marriage should shun luxury. The crockery, stage, pandal, bouquet, garland and wedding letter should have no plastic or disposable contents. The gift packets should not be made of plastic. The waste from the functions should be disposed of at source.
“We launched this novel project as part of the state government’s Haritha Keralam project. Our aim is to promote minimal use of plastic as well as discourage disposable articles,” said Mattannur municipality chairman M. Bhaskaran Master.
Those who want to participate in the competition should apply in writing to the municipality chairman. A panel comprising the chairman, council members and experts will visit the functions and judge the winner.
The municipality is planning to extend the project after January with the help of sponsors. “At present, we have not approached any sponsors. However, in future we will do that to spread the message of eco-friendly functions throughout the year,” added Mr Bhaskaran Master.
The municipality is also planning to implement a bylaw imposing hefty licence fee for using and selling plastic products. According to the bylaw, Rs 4,000 will be charged as licence fee for selling plastic carry bag above 50 microns. Fifty percent of the carry bag price would go to the municipality. Also, a user fee between Rs 30 and Rs 1,000 will be charged for handing over plastic waste to the civic body.
