Prizes given away to winners of campaign against plastic

As many as 6,400 persons had handed over plastic waste to the civic authorities under the anti-plastic campaign held in Samayapuram last month during the annual Chithirai car festival of the Arulmigu Mariamman Temple.

The competition, “Dump plastics, win gold,” was organised by the district administration in association with the Youth Exnora, Junior Chamber International and Uravugal Public Charitable Trust to discourage the use of plastics below 40 microns in thickness. Gold, silver coins, and emergency lamps were up for grabs in the competition held during the temple festival starting April 7.

People were asked to hand in plastic waste at the designated counters set up during the festival in Samayapuram. Coupons were issued to people who handed in plastic wastes and a lucky dip was held to select the winners. All those who handed in plastics were given eco-friendly bags. Over 10,000 plastic bags were collected during the competition.

On Saturday, four lucky winners walked away with one gram gold coins while two others got two-gram silver coins. Ten others bagged emergency lamps.

T.P. Poonachi, Minister for Khadi and Village Industries, distributed the prizes to the winners in the presence of Collector Jayashree Muralidharan and elected representatives.

The competition was held on the lines of the ones held in Srirangam during the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival over the past two years.

Photo expo

The Minister inaugurated a two-day photographic exhibition organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations highlighting the projects and schemes implemented by the State government over the past two years.

R. Manoharan, Government Chief Whip, M. Paranjothi, N.R. Sivapathi, and T. Indira Gandhi, MLAs, were present.