Hyderabad, February 16: It has been over eight months since the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority declared the surroundings of Hussainsagar as a ‘Plastic-free Zone’ as part of the Hussain sagar lake and Catchment Area Improvement Project (HSL and CAIP). However, the area surrounding the lake is littered with empty soft drink bottles, cans and plastic covers.
“We collected around Rs 43,000 in the past six months by levying fines on the retailers and vendors who used plastic indiscriminately. The ‘Mughal ka nalla’ is littered with plastic and thermocol. The car decorators on Minister Road throw lot of plastic waste. We try to make the one-and-a-half kilometre surrounding Hussainsagar as plastic free as possible but people have to be aware of the immense damage they are causing,” says Mohd Ashfaq, co-convener of the Campaign for Housing and Tenurial Rights(CHATRI) and the in-charge of task-force specially constituted for the project. NTR Garden, Secretariat Road, I-Max, Necklace Road, Lumbini Park, Eat Street, Jal Vihar and Sanjeevaiah Park, among others are some of the favourite hang-outs in the area thronged by the city denizens everyday.
“The entry of the visitors carrying plastic bags is regulated by putting stickers. We use around 220 stickers everyday at the plastic collection counters to put a tab on the plastic usage,” says Urmila Grace, Lake Task Force at Lumbini Park.
“Around 800 people visit Lumbini Park everyday. We are not allowing any plastics inside the park,” says G Soloman, junior assistant, Lumbini Park.
NGOs are doing a yeoman’s service in making the Hussain sagar into a plastic free zone, believe citizen groups.
“The HMDA has involved 4 NGOs in the initiative which I think is a very good move. By involving NGOs, they are making it more people-friendly and accountable. Otherwise, officials would just bring in some contractors who would claim a bill but might not be as effective,” says Ved Kumar of Forum for Better Hyderabad.
Most of the visitors believe the campaign needs to implemented on a larger scale. “The ban on plastics is being enforced alright but the lake continues to stink and is full of trash,” says D Tatarao, a visitor.
Taskforce teams patrol the Hussainsagar with pre recorded messages in several locations including NTR Gardens, Secretariat Road, Lumbini Park and Sanjeevaiah Park, among others from 4 pm to 6 pm. “We do not litter the place. People throw all sorts of things including pooja offerings and paraphernalia into the lake.
They sometimes come in cars, dump the garbage and flee,” says Ramana, an ice-cream vendor. “Since one year, the officials have been quite strict. That is why we are using paper cups, else we will have to pay anywhere between Rs 250 and Rs 300 as a fine,” says Jeetender, another vendor who sells lemonade.
The Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) officials claim the move has been implemented in letter and spirit. “The response to the ban has been very good. All vendors in the area have switched to paper bags instead of plastic. Appropriate fines are being issued wherever applicable. We want to further educate the public on the issue,” says Sunil Kumar Gupta, member (Environment), HMDA.
The level of public awareness about the gravity of environmental damage that plastics cause leaves a lot to be desired. “The mindsets of the people should change. There is a certain complacency when it comes to environment. A government order banning plastics will not do. People have to understand the magnitude of the damage,” says S Jeevan Kumar of Human Rights Forum.
Also, the ban on plastic should cover a wider jurisdiction, believe some NGOs. “We are requesting the authorities to increase the areas coming under the purview of the ban to make it more holistic in its implementation,” says Sivarani, coordinator, Association for Promoting Social Action which runs plastic collection centres at NTR Park, Sanjeeviah Park and Lumbini Park.
–Agencies