BU Joins Hands For Anitplastic Camp

Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University G. Thiruvasagam (third left) handing over to Mayor R. Venkatachalam (second left) the copy of a survey report on the usage of plastics that he released at a function organised by RAAC in the city on Sunday. Collector V. Palanikumar (left) is in the picture. Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam announced on Sunday that over three-lakh students of 45 colleges affiliated to it would go on a door-to-door campaign in 72 wards of the Coimbatore Corporation to persuade people to shun plastic carry bags.

Inaugurating a function to mark Alagana Kovai Day of the Residents’ Awareness Association of Coimnbatore (RAAC) here, Mr. Thiruvasagam said the city would be divided into 45 zones and each would be covered by a college. Pledging the university’s support to RAAC’s drive against plastic bags, he said the students would educate the public on the dangers the bags posed to the environment. The drive by the students would be over by the end of July. It would focus on sensitising shops and commercial establishments to the need to shun plastic bags. “If the traders do not give up plastic bags, our students will go on a satyagraha in front of the shops in their respective zones on Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2,” he announced. The Vice-Chancellor was not done yet. A hail of announcements followed, to encourage more people to join the drive.

The university would give a research award of Rs. 1 lakh to someone who would find an alternative to plastic bags. “There are certain things such as chutney or sambar from hotels that one cannot carry in a cloth or paper bag. But, we need to avoid using plastic covers or bags. So, it is important to find an alternative. The person who finds it through research will get the award.”Appreciating a survey made by students of Sri Krishna College of Arts and Science on the usage of plastic bags in Coimbatore city, Mr. Thiruvasagam said that the university would give a doctorate to those who made an in-depth research on this subject. He said research must be useful to society, such as the one done by the college students, and not just to earn a doctorate.

Mr. Thiruvasagam released the survey report and handed over the first copy to Mayor R. Venkatachalam. Principal of the college K. Sundararaman read out some of the survey findings.The Vice-Chancellor also offered space on the university campus for RAAC to establish its office. “But, we want RAAC to extend its activities up to Marudamalai (a suburb west of the city where the university is located.)”, he said. Collector V. Palanikumar pointed out that though the Government could introduce a law on plastics, only organisations such as RAAC could make it into a public movement. “We have been issuing circulars or notices to various establishments on the use of plastic bags.But, only RAAC’s efforts are paying off because of the involvement of students,” he said.

Three-lakh tonnes of waste were generated every day across the district. One-third of this consisted of plastic wastes, he said. The Mayor said the councillors would go to the people and traders with an appeal to shun plastic bags. “But, a stringent law is also needed to bring about a change. We will make an appeal to the Government for this,” he said. “Even this morning, we found that an underground drainage had blocks caused by a huge amount of discarded plastic bags. It is time that we ended the menace,” he said. Deputy Mayor N. Karthik said it was heartening to see students educating people on the risk from plastic waste.

Chief Education Officer S. Karmegam said: “We have only one Earth. So, let us protect it. It cannot be put to the risk of environmental degradation by people’s fascination for things such as plastic bags.” RAAC president C.R. Swaminthan appreciated the Coimbatore Corporation’s efforts to keep plastic bags out of the city. RAAC would also step up its drive, he said. Association vice-president G. Soundararajan said students would stage street plays over the next three days on the ill-effects of plastic bags. More people now want to hand over plastic bags and take cloth bags from RAAC. The response was overwhelming, he said.

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