Like everywhere in the state, Dharwad officials still use plastic bottles in official meetings and programmes even after the health minister issued a recommendation 4 months ago
When CM attended a lunch in Bengaluru, he was given a glass bottle but his neighbours were given a plastic bottle Like everywhere in the state, Dharwad officials still use plastic bottles in official meetings and programmes even after the health minister issued a recommendation 4 months ago When CM attended a lunch in Bengaluru, he was given a glass bottle but his neighbours were given a plastic bottle Like everywhere in the state, Dharwad officials still use plastic bottles in official meetings and programmes even after the health minister issued a recommendation 4 months ago Hubballi : The state health ministry had recommended that all departments stop using plastic bottles for water, avoid serving tea and coffee, and strictly keep fried food off the menu at govt meetings and programmes. Issued by the commissioner, Health and Family Welfare Services, Bengaluru, on May 12, 2026, the guidelines, however, are yet to be followed in several districts. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
She further said unless compliance is made mandatory and monitored rigorously, it will remain as another circular that is “celebrated at the top and ignored at the bottom”. Reacting to the govt circular, G Krishna Prasad, an organic marketing expert, said: “If it is followed strictly, many women’s groups, farmer groups, agricultural universities, and companies are ready to hand out millets, vegetables and fruit that can help protect the environment. He further said the current circular “looks like it’s aimed at encouraging cultivation of neglected and underutilised species”.
Like everywhere else, use of plastic bottles is rampant in Dharwad district, too. Officials, including DCs, zilla panchayat CEOs and SPs, continue to use plastic bottles and serve junk food at official programmes and meetings across the state. Ironically, the guidelines are followed mainly at events attended by the chief minister and health minister. Anjali Ramanna, an advocate and columnist in Bengaluru, noted that this clearly shows the gap between policy and practice. “When the Health Ministry’s May guideline to ban plastic bottles, tea/coffee, and fried/junk food in favour of millets, fruits, sprouts, green tea and steel/glass bottles is followed only when the CM or health minister is present, the entire exercise becomes a mere photo-op protocol, not a health or environmental reform. If DCs, ZP CEOs and SPs themselves don’t adopt it in meetings at their own districts, the message sent out to lower-ranked staff and public is that healthy, sustainable practices are for VIP events only,” Anjali explained. SP Gunjan Arya refused to react when asked to comment on the problem While DC Snehal R was unavailable for comments. Download the TOI App.
Kalgundi Naveen, a science communicator, noted that nutritious food is a must for all. “Unfortunately, we are all turning away from nutritious food options and falling for junk items. Govt spends crores to create awareness against plastic use, but continues to keep plastic bottles. If this the case, how will people believe in govt rules?” he questioned.