10 bags of plastic collected from Cubbon Park in a day

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

In an attempt to make Cubbon Park free from plastic, more than 25 volunteers and students have joined hands on Sunday to collect plastic in the park. They successfully collected around 10 bags full of plastic from the park within two hours.

“We have organized a Plog run in Cubbon Park. We have collected empty plastic bottles and other garbage from the park. It is shocking and disgusting to see the quantity of plastic thrown in the park. I want the visitors, including those from elite families, to dump plastic in bins placed at different locations,” said Plog Raj, who led the initiative.

More than 15 volunteers from U & I, a volunteer-driven charitable organization functioning from Cox Town in East Bengaluru, and 10 students have participated in the Plog Run to pick up plastic waste from the park.

“I am very happy to participate in the event. I was shocked to see the amount of plastic thrown in Cubbon Park. It is the first time for me to participate in this type of programme,” said Madhumitha V, a college student.

Rohith Kumar of U & I has opined that people visiting Cubbon Park have to keep the park free from plastic. “The visitors, who carry water bottles or chips packets, have to throw empty plastic bottles and chips packet covers into dust bins,” said Kumar.

Appreciating the volunteers for collecting plastic from Cubbon Park, Umesh S, president of Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association suggested selection of a new contractor for the maintenance of Cubbon Park. “The horticulture department officials did not change the contractor for the maintenance of Cubbon Park for more than 10 years. I suspect that horticulture department officials colluded with the contractor,” Umesh said, adding that the horticulture department has to take measures to ensure no plastic in Cubbon Park.

Meanwhile, a horticulture department official has assured to take measures to keep Cubbon Park free from plastic.