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Bangalore University Jnana Bharathi Campus to go plastic-free

The campus is one of the few surviving lung spaces in the city.

Bengaluru: Bangalore University is in the process of making its Jnana Bharathi Campus completely eco-friendly and plastic free. BU sources told this paper that varsity has already initiated steps to make its sprawling 1112-acre campus plastic free. The campus is one of the few surviving lung spaces in the city.

The land for Jnanabharathi campus was granted in 1973 by the then vice-chancellor H. Narasimhaiah. The campus houses more than 45 post-graduate departments, apart from the National Law School of India University, the Regional Institute of English, Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics, Sports Authority of India campus and other departments.

As per the directions from State Government, the varsity has circulated circular to all the heads of the department in the campus to spread the message among students about avoid using plastic cups, plastic bottles, covers and other materials inside the campus.

State Government wants to encourage students to refuse, reduce and reuse plastic products in their daily lives.

It is also educating students on the ill-effects of plastic, ecological damages to the environment and sensitizing students to use steel cutlery utensils. In addition, University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities and higher educational institutions to ban use of plastic cups, lunch packets, straws, bottles and bags on their campuses.

They have also sought a ban on take-away coffee cups, lunch wrapped in disposable plastic packaging, plastic bags, disposable food service cups, plates, containers made in polystyrene foam and plastic straws. In a communication to vice-chancellors they also want to restrict single-use plastic water bottles and encourage use of refillable bottles.

One of the major sources of plastic generation is local tea shops and canteens. The varsity has also issued an advisory to the shop owners to stop using plastic materials.

As a first step to make the campus eco friendly, the campus had achieved self sufficiency by harnessing solar power. It also taken up sapling plantation on a large scale to enhance its green cover. The university is also installing rainwater harvesting structures and carrying out drip irrigation in the gardens.

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