BANGALORE: These days weddings are synonymous with a lot of plastic. Often the payasa is served in plastic cups while sheets of the stuff are rolled out to cover the dining tables. The giveaways to the guests are also packed in plastic.

The Sri Nirvana Swamy Samudaya Bhavan marriage hall on an 11-acre Degula Math property in Kanakapura town, 55 km away, from the city also trod the beaten path till the management was jolted into action when a cow, which consumed plastic bags as they are wont to do, underwent agonising pain and medication.

"In the interest of protecting the environment and the over 50 cows and buffalos on the premises, we had to do something," K.V. Mahadeva Swamy, manager, told The Hindu.

Those performing marriages in the hall are made aware of the harmful effects of plastic and are asked to avoid it. Instead, the management insists on the use of paper rolls and Styrofoam cups. "People usually come with paper rolls and cups. For those who don't, we make arrangements for the supply of steel cups and paper rolls," said Prakash, who works with the math.

This has helped the math prevent disposal of an average of 1,000 plastic cups and 30 rolls of plastic sheets every time a function takes place. People from Kollegal and Malavalli regularly perform marriages here and the math's decision has apparently helped environment as it is close to the banks of the sangam of the Arkavathy and the Cauvery. The math has a school and its students are involved in the drive against plastics.

Mr. Swamy said though their attempt is a success, there are those who flout the ban. "In such cases, we separate the plastic from the waste and burn it." He agrees that burning may be bad.

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