BENGALURU: Cheerful faces, energetic feet, colourful attires and self-proclaimed portrait photographers act as an extension to the floral visual treat.
Chains of food outlets and vehicle vendors exhibiting their produce further extends to serve a delicious appeal to the tastebuds thus adding a recreational fervour to life. The flower show in Lalbagh Botanical Garden thus is no less than a fanfare attracting family time.
The impact of this recreational fervour has often resulted in generation of cliff mounts of waste, largely disposed as un-segregated. Saahas, an NGO has come up with the mission of initiating, regulating and monitoring the generation and segregation of waste in Lalbagh.
“This is the second flower show that Saahas has been directly engaging with the garden authorities. Republic day flower show was a learning phase. Back then, we were focused on spreading awareness about waste management through rallies and street plays, while loads of waste was being generated. Thus, this time, we have decided to ‘Man the bins’ and educate people about informed waste disposal such that waste is disposed segregated”, said Rajalakshmi, Cordinator, Project ‘Litter Free Lalbagh’.
With the Saahas’ intervention, ceramic cups have been introduced by Coffee Board as a measure of reducing waste generation. Steel cutleries have replaced paper cutleries for serving meals to 350 security officials deployed. These two were the direct changes that could curb a huge proportion of waste generated, said Rajalakshmi.
Small steps like banning pamphlets of any kind is also the way forward to cut waste generation and littering. We have strictly stopped vendors from distributing pamphlets, said Swathy, Field Supervisor, Saahas. Meeting with the vendors and informing them about waste segregation and disposal has brought the NGO close to monitoring the practice of the same.
Pushkar Films have collaborated with Saahas to support deployment of additional staff for the following days of Flower Show. Bosch extended support with respect to installation of bins and dry waste collection unit in Lalbagh. Volunteering groups from Dayanand Sagar College, Infosys, etc., have also extended their support to the mission ‘Man-the-bins.’
Chandrashekhar, Deputy Director, Gardens office, Lalbagh said, “Lalbagh officials, in collaboration with Saahas and Beautiful Bangalore have set up a strong team to monitor and manage waste generation and
segregation.”
