The district administration, voluntary organisations and the local business fraternity have decided to work on a plan aimed at making the Bhagirathi river and the Uttarkashi district free of polythene waste. This campaign is slated to start from Uttarkashi town on the occasion of ‘Himalayan Day’ on September 9.
According to environmentalist Suresh Bhai of Nadi Bachao Abhiyan, a pledge drafted for this campaign is to be signed first by the district magistrate, municipality chairperson and Vyapar Sangathan head.
The Uttarkashi district magistrate C Ravi Shankar has responded proactively towards the planned anti-polythene campaign and also taken cognisance of the suggestions made by Uttarakhand Sarvodaya Mandal and Nadi Bachao Abhiyan to the chief minister Harish Rawat and Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti to make the Ganga pollution free, said Suresh Bhai.
“Many people in Uttarkashi appear to be committing themselves to making their surrounding environment polythene free. Volunteers will motivate the people to return to the use of cloth bags in stead of polythene bags. Even in remote villages, the shopkeepers will have to provide cheap cloth or fibre bags to customers in stead of polythene while also asking them to being a cloth bag with them while shopping in the future.
The urban local bodies will also have to dispose off mounds of polythene waste and ensure that such waste is not dumped on river banks. The people have started to realise that polythene which doesn’t decompose for 400 years, causes blockages when dumped in roadside drains leading to an unhygienic situation in localities. When it eventually ends up in the river it causes contamination and damage to the environment. It is more sensible to stop using polythene bags considering their damaged effects,” he said.
According to Dwarika Prasad Semwal of Jaddi organisation, on the occasion of Himalayan Day, a meet will be organised at Kirti government inter college in Uttarkashi.
A large number of people including government officials, NGO representatives and school students are expected to attend this programme that will mark the start of the campaign aimed at making Uttarkashi polythene free. Those attending the programme will sign a pledge to contribute towards ending the use of polythene bags. Students will sign the pledge and take copies of the same for their parents to sign while the municipality will also distribute fibre bags on the occasion.
A rally will be also taken out in the town on the occasion to raise public awareness on the need for conservation of the Himalayas and the Ganga.