Salem organises Yercaud Nam Uyirkadu initiative to spread awareness on how plastic harms environment

District Collector K. Elambahavath inspecting an eatery in Yercaud on Saturday. The Salem district administration is spreading awareness against single-use plastic items in a 10-day programme titled Yercaud Nam Uyirkadu.Various steps are being taken to eradicate single-use plastic items in the hill station. The programme will conclude on September 20.Earlier, under the Green Yercaud initiative, the district administration had instructed commercial establishments and residents to dispose of waste properly by segregating it as biodegradable and nonbiodegradable. Similarly, through the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Food Safety Department, surprise checks were carried out and plastic items were seized.District Collector K. Elambahavath said programmes were being held in Yercaud Panchayat Union to spread awareness among the public on the environmental harm caused by single-use plastic items, avoiding such products, and protecting the environment.Cultural programmes were performed to sensitise the public to the environmental damage caused by plastic waste. The people were encouraged to use environment-friendly alternatives such as cloth bags. These programmes would be held in 12 places every day, and 120 locations would be covered during the 10 days, the District Collector added.Instructing the tourists coming to Yercaud to avoid plastics, the District Collector said that as Yercaud is an important tourist destination, not only the locals but the tourists also should cooperate to protecte the environment.People should reduce use of plastic products in their daily lives and use environment-friendly products. Shops like coffee shops, eateries, restaurants, and bakeries in Yercaud town were inspected, and owners of these establishments were briefed about the harms of using plastic items.Pamphlets were also distributed to the public, requesting them to avoid using single-use plastic items and to protect Yercaud for the generations to come, Mr. Elambahavath added. Published - September 13, 2026 09:11 pm IST