Don't use, manufacture recycled plastic: MCC Commissioner

March 4, 2011

Mangalore, March 4: Dr KN Vijaya Prakash, Commissioner of Mangalore City Corporation has warned the citizens against the use and manufacture of banned plastic.

In a press release, he said that it is disheartening that despite the raids conducted by MCC on January 19, 2011 the use and manufacture of plastic continues to be rampant in the city.

He informed that due to the usage of recycled plastic there will be several problems such as harm to environment, blocking the flow of water in drainage, loss of soil fertility, toxic food items and so on.

He reminded that the Supreme Court has ordered a ban on the sale of tobacco products like gutkha and pan masala in plastic pouches from March 1.

According to Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999, by Ministry of Environment and Forests, the banned plastics should not be used in the city limits.

No vendor shall use carry bags or containers made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing, or packaging of foodstuffs. The thickness of plastics should not be less than 40 microns, he informed.

He also informed violators of the rules will face hefty penalty and other disciplinary actions.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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