Hoshiarpur- On the fifth day of Mata Chintpurni Mela, SDM Hoshiarpur Gursimranjit Kaur told senior journalist Daljit Ajnoha in a special conversation that taking a big step towards environmental protection during the Mela, the district administration has started a 100% no-plastic campaign in all langars. This campaign is being run in collaboration with the Red Cross Society under the Chahrada Suraj Hariyat Mission, which aims to completely eliminate single-use plastic from all religious eating places.
He said that to strengthen this Hariyat Yatra, more than 20 voluntary organizations of Hoshiarpur, more than 300 volunteers, including 150 NGO members and 150 Civil Defense personnel, are deployed in shifts in different langars from Adampur to the district border. These volunteers are responsible for maintaining cleanliness, ensuring a plastic-free environment, making travelers aware, supporting waste management and preparing daily reports.
SDM Gursimranjit Kaur said that this campaign is not limited to cleanliness alone, but is an attempt to set a new standard towards making religious events eco-sensitive. She appealed to the media to highlight this initiative more so that other religious fairs also get inspired by it.
He said that the administration has arranged cloth bag distribution centers, drinking water facilities, additional dustbins and special cleaning teams to make this campaign successful. Along with this, with the support of the Municipal Corporation, Punjab Pollution Control Board and Rural Development Department, eco-friendly plates, spoons and other items worth Rs 5 lakh will be distributed to those langars which are unknowingly using plastic.
He appealed to the langar organizers to completely boycott single-use plastic. Devotees were also appealed to bring cloth or jute bags and reusable water bottles with them. Shopkeepers were also asked to use eco-friendly packaging.
Volunteers have been ordered to always be ready to help the devotees. He said that this "no-plastic" campaign is not just limited to awareness, but is a bold step towards providing a clean and green environment for future generations.
For public convenience, the administration has set up a control room in collaboration with Reliance Industries. In case of any emergency, devotees can contact 01882-292570.
The SDM appealed to the devotees not to bring heavy luggage and strictly avoid travelling on the roofs of buses. He assured that full preparations have been made for traffic management, law and order, cleanliness and medical facilities during the fair.