The Youth wing of the State Red Cross organised a cleanliness drive in three water bodies, including Bindu Sagar here and Indradyumna and Markandeya at Puri on the occasion of the Kartika Purnima on Thursday.
Thousands of devotees sail symbolic toy-like boats in the various water bodies on Kartik Purnima to remember the glory of rich ancient maritime trade. It causes pollution to the water bodies. Notably, the water is used for many domestic purposes by the local communities.
More than a hundred of youth volunteers from the Droupadi College of Science and Commerce, counsellors from the Institute of media studies and other Red Cross staffs cleaned the Bindu Sagar while over 150 Youth Red Cross volunteers and counsellors of SCS College, Suraj Malla Saha College, Government Women’s College, Xavier College, DAV School, Sarada Vihar High School cleaned the Indradyumna and Markandeya ponds at Puri. IRCS-OSB Secretary Dr Chakradhar Panda stressed that such initiatives would not only inspire the young volunteers but also create awareness for a clean and safe environment among the general public.