MYSURU: Forest department officials with the help of local residents have collected nearly 2 tonnes of plastic waste from the backwater of Kapila during the day-long drive recently.
It is the second such drive this year.
Eco volunteers and local resort owners too had joined.
The plastic wastes were collected from backwater spread over six kilometres distance from Udbur anti-poaching camp to Mastigudi sun set point Kabini dam in the HD Kote taluk is seeing heavy inflow following rains in its catchment areas in Wayanad but the flood water has brought troubles to both animals and foresters.
Backwater is flooded with plastic, bio medical waste and garbage which are posing a threat to the wild animals.
According to the forest department authorities this drive was carried out in the Kapila backwater under the DB Kuppe wildlife range.
Forest officials from Antarasanthe and DB Kuppe participated in the drive.
SP Mahadev, ACF, Metikupe subdivision informed that the trash included plastic items, bio medical wastes like syringes, beer bottles and what not.
“The plastic items have become a big headache in the backwater.
If we do not clear them, it would travel to the forest area and pose a threat to the lives of wild animals.
So we took up this drive,” he explained.
“Making the backwater free from the plastic is a big challenge.
We can see all kinds of items which are really dangerous,” he explained.
The plastic collected from the Kapila backwater is recycled in Mysuru by the Namma Mysuru Foundation.
“In the backwater we have collected all kinds of plastic materials including worn-out shoes.
We have joined hands with Mysuru City Corporation to make furniture using recycled plastic,” claimed foundation managing trustee K Dasharath.