Members of the South India Floriculture Association distributed ‘natural’ flowers to visitors and walkers at Lalbagh on Sunday morning as a form of protest against artificial varieties imported from China. A week ago, the association had submitted a request to Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar demanding that the Centre ban import of artificial flowers from China.
They requested the government to come to the aid of farmers and traders who are in financial distress due to the increasing use of plastic flowers, especially during festive seasons.
Association director B. Srikanth said that Sunday’s protest was well received. Flowers worth ₹10 lakh were presented between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Sunday.