HYDERABAD: It is meant to be a health run but it seems not so healthy for the environment. Last year, the Hyderabad 10 K Run left 400 kg of plastic waste. With People’s Plaza being one of the points, many bottles were found strewn around the Hussainsagar lake. This time around, the AP Pollution Control Board, Save Our Urban Lakes NGO and Buddha Purnima project authority have decided to ask the organisers of the 10 K Run to avoid plastic.
The event will be held on November 27 and expected to draw large participation. Each participant makes use of at least five small bottles of water (300 ml) during the run. “An average of 20,000 participants are expected and by end of the event, around one lakh water bottles get piled up,” said APPCB social scientist WG Prasanna Kumar.
The organisers Sport 18 have agreed to curb usage of plastic bottles, according to MJ Akbar, officer-onspecial- duty for the Buddha Purnima project. “The organisers have stated they have a tie up with ITC Wow which will help them recycle the waste generated during the event,” he said.
“These days packaged water bottles are very popular at every event. Clean water made available to private companies for packaging and sale, should be taken over by public sector units to provide the same water to public,” said Jasveen Jairath, convener of SOUL.
Officials and activists have suggested around 500 dustbins can be placed along the 10 k track so participants do not pollute the lake. They have also requested participants to carry their own water bottles.
A group of students from eight engineering colleges will conduct a campaign against use of plastic during the run. Meanwhile, officials have warned that whoever throws plastic around will fined Rs 200.
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