In a novel way to dispose the plastic waste accumulated at Sabarimala during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season, the Forest department has installed a plastic shredder at Neelimala on the Pampa-Sannidhanam path.
Additional Chief Secretary, K. Jayakumar, has switched on the machine at a simple function held at Neelimala on Sunday.
According to Mr V.R. Suresh, Assistant Conservator of Forests, the pet bottles and other plastic waste collected from the forest areas would be disposed using the plastic shredders.
He said the department was planning to install similar plastic shredders at the Sannidhanam, and Pampa too soon in an effort to contain the plastic menace in the forests during he annual pilgrim season.
The newly installed plastic shredder that could dispose 10 kg pet bottles in an hour costs Rs 82,000.
According to official sources, as much as two 500 tonne of plastic waste use to accumulate in the Sabarimala forests during the annual pilgrim season.
R. Rajendran Pillai, Forest Range Officer; S. Saneesh, N. Sreekumar and P. Prasad, all Forest personnel, were also present.
NDRF
National Disaster Response team attached to Central Reserve Police Force staged a demonstration of different rescue methods during a rescue operation at the Valiya Nadappanthal at Sabarimala on Sunday.
W.N. Sandrew, NDRF Assistant Commandant and R.S. Jodah, team commander described on various rescue devices used by the rescue team.
Nagaraju, Police Special Officer and Rahul R. Nair, Assistant Special Officer, were also present.
