Dialogue with Secretary, Department of Forests, Government of Karnataka

Sandeep Chakravarthy met with the Secretary of DoF. Here is the mail exchange on the same.

This refers to our recent meeting at the Tree Plantation function on Aug.29th,2009 organised by the Rotary Club of Koramangala. As mentioned to you briefly,I am a volunteer in a group called "Clean and Green". We have focussed our attention on cleaning the plastic waste left behind by tourists / visitors who visit two popular "picnic spots" in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.Our group has been in existence for over three and a half years.

The efforts of our volunteers have been supported by 8 Corporate sponsored clean up drives, as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. Jungle Lodges and Resorts have also supported us by bringing back the plastic to Bangalore in their vehicle, and delivering it to K K Plastics for re-cycling. We have removed well over 2000 kg of plastic,possibly close to 3000kg from the Wildlife Sanctuary.

We have the permission from the PCCF to install garbage bins and erect signboards at both Mutthatti and Sangam. With the help of Sun Microsystems,one of our corporate sponsors, we have installed a few bins at Sangam.

Since plastic is still not banned from being brought into the Sanctuary, we are working on a locally sustainable model,of recruiting some families who live in and around the Sanctuary to collect the plastic which is littered and also to educate the visitors / tourists not to litter. These families will have to be remunerated for the work they do.

While corporate sponsorship is one option, the sale of plastic to re-cycling agencies is another way to remunerate those involved in collecting the plastic. We are exploring both possibilities. Sir, we would like your support to ban the entry of plastic in all the protected forests of Karnataka and make violation of this a punishable offence.

Our group realises that enforcing the law is difficult by the Forest Dept, due to a shortage of manpower,and this is where "Clean and Green" can help by persuading corporate sponsors to pay for security staff who will enforce the law and penalise offenders.

If we have your approval to proceed along these lines,we shall approach our corporate sponsors for assistance. "Clean and Green's" vision has been to keep our Forests plastic free and we seek your support to realise the dream of hundreds maybe thousands of volunteers.

The RESPONSE !!!

Thanks for your e-mail expressing concern on the plastic littering in the wild-life areas. I have spoken to Chief Wildlife warden to ban the plastic in the wild life areas.

Sandeep is attempting to meet with the Chief Wildlife Warden and is communicating with him to get the time.