Bandra fair to be plasticfree this yr

Stall allottees asked to adhere to fire guidelines, not use plastic bags; thermocol models are banned as well

MUMBAI: Adhering to the plastic ban imposed by the state government, the authorities at Bandra’s Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount (popularly known as Mount Mary) have issued instructions to the stall allotees to not use plastic bags.

“There was a special meeting held with the stall allotees, where they were instructed to adhere to fire guidelines and not use plastic bags,” said Bishop John Rodrigues, rector of Mount Mary Basilica.

Additionally, miniature thermocol models of houses, which are traditionally offered by devotees, have been banned and the stall allotees have been asked to switch to cardboard.

“We also said that there should be no plastic wrapping to flowers offered at the dais,” said Rodrigues.

The annual Bandra fair, which commences a day after the birthday celebrations of Mother Mary, begins on Sunday and will end on September 16.

More than 500 stalls are expected to be put up at the steps of the Basilica and around it. The fair sees thousands of visitors daily and last year, volunteers reported 50,000 visitors on just the first day of the week-long celebrations.

On March 23, the state government issued a notification imposing a ban on the purchase, sale, distribution and storage of single-use disposable plastic.

Following this, a two-month period was given to citizens to dispose banned plastic items, after which authorities started taking punitive action against those flouting the ban after June 23.