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Time of India
23-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Madurai goes green: bamboo bins debut at meenakshi temple for chithirai festival
In a refreshing blend of tradition and sustainability, the Madurai Corporation has introduced an eco-conscious garbage management solution around the Meenakshi Amman Temple for this year's Chithirai festival . Brightly painted bamboo baskets are tied to electric and lamp posts along the four streets leading to the temple. Implemented just a day ago, the initiative has already begun receiving praise from devotees, traders, and residents. Instead of relying solely on fixed garbage bins at the ends of the streets, these elevated bamboo baskets, placed every 10 metres, provide a convenient way to dispose of waste right where the crowd gathers. The aim is to make waste disposal easier for the lakhs of visitors thronging the temple streets during the festive days. "We wanted to reduce foot traffic toward distant dustbins and encourage devotees to keep the temple surroundings clean," says a corporation official. "We are piloting this initiative on the four Chithirai streets until the festival concludes next week." The idea was to blend utility with culture, and bamboo, being a natural and biodegradable material, fits perfectly. About 40 baskets, painted in bright, festive colours, are tied to posts at regular intervals. "We've placed them four feet above the ground so they are out of reach for animals," says the official. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 35 & Earning? Protect Your Family with ₹1 Cr Life Cover ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo M Karthick, a civic activist from Sellur, says the Chithirai festival often leaves the temple precincts littered with paper cups, plastic wrappers, and food waste. "In recent years, the corporation tried various methods such as three shifts of cleaning to tackle this," says Karthick. "But this year's bamboo basket initiative stands out, not just for its utility, but also for its aesthetics. Public awareness remains low. People don't realise they can use these baskets. The corporation should install boards to guide them." N Murugan, a flower vendor near East Tower Street, says earlier customers would throw things down and walk away. "Now they drop waste into these baskets. It's much neater," he says. Sanitation workers have also found the process more efficient. "We can just walk along the route and empty these baskets quickly," says a morning shift worker. "It's easier than collecting litter scattered across the streets." Though the initiative is currently limited to the temple's immediate surroundings, civic officials say similar eco-friendly practices could be extended to other crowded areas during festivals and market days.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bamboo bins bring green touch to Chithirai festival
Madurai: In a smart blend of tradition and sustainability, the Madurai Corporation has introduced bamboo garbage baskets along the four Chithirai streets surrounding the Meenakshi Amman Temple , just in time for the annual Chithirai festival . The eco-friendly baskets, painted in bright festive colours and tied to electric and lamp posts every 10 metres, aim to keep the temple streets clean as lakhs of devotees pour in. Positioned about four feet above the ground, the baskets remain out of reach for animals, helping prevent litter spillover and odour. Unlike fixed bins located at street ends, these elevated baskets offer immediate disposal options right where crowds gather. A senior corporation official said the initiative, launched a day ago, is being piloted during the festival and may be extended if successful. "It reduces the need to walk to distant bins and encourages devotees to maintain cleanliness," the official added. Civic activist M Karthick of Sellur said the temple area usually ends up littered with plastic and food waste despite multiple cleaning shifts. "This initiative stands out for both its practicality and visual appeal," he said, urging the Corporation to install signs so people understand the purpose of the baskets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Are you ready to conquer a planet? Undo N Murugan, a flower vendor near East Tower Street, noted that people are already using the baskets. "It's much neater now," he said. Sanitation workers too have found them helpful, saying the new system makes waste collection faster and more efficient. While currently limited to the temple area, officials hinted that similar eco-friendly measures could be adopted in other busy spots during festivals and market days. MSID:: 120555765 413 |
