In order to maintain a clean environment in and around the Kuldiha Sanctuary, the Baleswar forest division has initiated several steps.
The department is encouraging the roadside dhabas and eateries to use lPG for cooking dissuading them to use firewood. At the same time, the department is making efforts to keep the temples free from polythene and plastic bags.
“There are 19 restaurants, dhabas and eateries operative in the zone, which use firewood. We are persuading them to obtain lPG and on our part we would extend Rs 1,000 each for the connection to them,” said DFO Harsh Bardhan Udgata.
“The dhabas and eateries in Jharanaghati, Sajnagarh, Nilgiri and Panchalingeswar cook their food using firewood procuring them either directly or indirectly from the sanctuary. To prevent such practices, we have decided to encourage them by giving subsidized commercial lPG,” he said.
It may be noted that the authorities have extended financial incentives to local residents around the Kuldiha Sanctuary for use of lPG instead of firewood in order to create smokeless villages and keep the environment free from smoke and pollution.
Further, in order to keep the temple area free from polythene, the department has braced up to take measures. As the devotees generally carry offerings, including flower, fruits, sweets and other items in polythene bags and after using throw them anywhere indiscriminately, those bags are litter in the campus posing serious environment problem. “To contain the menace, we have decided that each shop near a shrine would be supplied with bamboo baskets and they would be asked to give puja items in the same basket to the devotees,” said Udgata.