Karnataka bans plastic in all technical education colleges
What's the story
The Karnataka Government has taken the lead in implementing a first-ever 'no plastic policy' across all technical education institutes in the state.
The state department of technical education has issued a circular to all technical education institutes, directing them to impose the ban starting this academic year.
The ban applies to all government, government-aided, private engineering and polytechnic colleges.
Here's more.
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What prompted the Karnataka government to take the decision
"At an event organized recently at one of our government engineering colleges, we noticed almost half a truck of plastic cups and plates being used to provide lunch to students and staffers. Subsequently...we took the decision," said a government official to The New Indian Express.
Plastic ban
Plastic cups and glasses will soon be replaced with steel
Once the policy is implemented, all plastic cups and glasses in canteens and hostels will be replaced with steel ones.
Additionally, even on mass events like graduation day or annual day, use of plastic on campuses will be avoided.
Colleges have also been directed to frame rules pertaining to the ban of plastic, and circulate them among students and faculty members.
Enforcement
How the state department plans to enforce the policy
Karnataka's state department of technical education seems to be rather serious about implementing the policy and enforcing it.
Reportedly, the department will be deploying its officials to conduct surprise inspections at technical education institutes across the state.
Any institute found flouting the plastic ban will be penalized by the government, though the nature and severity of the punitive measures aren't known yet.