Pitching for a zero food waste IPL at Chepauk

Chennai: The food safety department of Tamil Nadu and an NGO have joined hands to reduce food wastage during the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the M A Chidambaram stadium in the city. They plan to feed around 1,000 people after every match with the food that is not consumed or remains unsold.

Food safety officials met IPL organizers, members of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and vendors who would set up stalls during the match, last week.

“We have worked out the various hunger spots at about 40 locations in the city. We have tied up with No Food Waste who would employ volunteers to collect, pack and distribute the excess food. Permission has been given to place two vans at two gates that would have vessels and packing material,” said food safety officer Ramakrishnan.

Seven matches are scheduled at the stadium where 26 stalls would sell ice cream, cold drinks, rice items, pizzas, snacks, pop corn and other items. There are also arrangements made for the police and administrative staff. Excess food after the match will be handed over to the volunteers.

Officials said the food would be packed and preserved at a certain temperature. “We will only distribute food that is fit for consumption,” said an official.

“After Sunday’s match, we will distribute food to people near Marina Beach, Egmore, Broadway, Central and the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. We have already done a hunger-mapping in the city and have been distributing food at slums in Tambaram, Chromepet, Nanganallur, Kottivakkam, Egmore, Aminjikarai and Thiruvanmiyur. Each vehicle can carry about 500 plates of food. Apart from these locations, 25 slums have been mapped,” said R Arun Kumar, Chennai coordinator of No Food Waste.

Padmanabhan Gopalan, the NGO’s founder, said the organization would want to tie up with all IPL teams to ensure that the tournament becomes a zero food waste event.

Food safety officials said they would set up boards with messages on wastage of food at 53 locations in the stadium that can accommodate 33,000-plus spectators. “We have issued an advisory to the board and all teams to avoid wastage of food. According to the organisers, 10% to 15% food is always dumped. This can be distributed to the needy,” said an official.

The food safety department said it would ensure excess food from all government events are also packed and re-distributed.