Chithirai Tiruvizha saw several people making the shift from plastic cups to areca plates, cornstarch bowls and palm leaf ‘donnais,’ in compliance with the State-wide plastic ban enforced on January 1.
However, despite the shift, some devotees in Alwarpuram, Bharati Ula Road, K. Pudur, DRO Colony, Chokkikulam and Tallakulam said that they walked over tonnes of plastic waste.
When Lord Kallazhagar paid a visit to Chinna Chokkikulam, devotees in nearby mandagapadis and pandals could be seen carrying food in transparent cups. M. Ramanathan, a resident of Chokkikulam, added that similar scenes were witnessed near Tallakulam Perumal Temple also.
City Health Officer - in charge M. Saroja said that Madurai Corporation workers collected over 4,000 tonnes of unsegregated garbage on April 19, the day of Lord Kallazhagar’s entry into the Vaigai, But residents felt that the thrust on plastic ban was losing steam.
Mr. Ramanathan, who followed the deity on all days of his visit to the city, said, “It is heartening to see people making the shift to plastic substitutes but non-woven and plastic bags are still widely circulated. In markets, flower shops and tea shops, it is common to find single-use plastic bags and cups,” he said.
Corporation Commissioner S. Visakan said that a majority of the plastic in the city during the Azhagar festival arrived from rural pockets. He said that it was common to spot tonnes of plastic strewn on highways on the outskirts of Madurai city. “We have intensified search inside the city. Sanitary officers have levied fines amounting to at least ₹10,000 everyday after raiding shops.”
A senior official of the local body attributed the lapse in checking entry of plastics at the piling work ahead of the election. Sanitary officers barely went on checks during election time, he said.
G. Thiagarajan, secretary, Ezhu Kadal Shop Owners’ Association, said that plastic was still peddled by men transporting material through cycle rickshaws. “Plastic is far cheaper than options like areca plate as the former is sold for 50p and the latter ranges between ₹1.50 and ₹4.50. People end up preferring the cheap option,” he said.
Ms. Saroja hoped that next year would see a 100% plastic-free festival. “Currently, about 60-70% of Madurai is plastic-free. The idea is to ensure that it is free of plastic the next year,” she said.
