39,600 tons of wet waste collected at Hola Mohalla to be converted into organic fertilizer
Bahadurjeet Singh/Rupnagar,March 13,2023
With the tireless efforts and commitment of the local government, Water Supply and Sanitation department, volunteers and citizens, Punjab Government obtained 100 percent momentous achievement in sanitation and cleanliness drive throughout the event of Hola Mohalla-2023 at Sri Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib.
Sharing key data regarding various types of waste collected at the MRF (Material Recovery Facility) centres, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav disclosed that more than 39,600 tons of wet waste collected at Hola Mohalla and this waste will be converted into organic fertilizer within a month. In addition, we were able to recycle 2,355 kg of plastic envelopes and 1,575 kg of plastic materials, which were compressed into bales. We also properly disposed of 129 kg of iron, 254 kg of glass, 239 kg of cardboard, and 2,185 kg of other waste. These efforts demonstrate a commitment to sustainable waste management practices and will help to reduce the environmental impact of the festival.
Each year, over 40 lakh devotees, tourists, and locals gather in Kiratpur Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib to celebrate the festivities. However, maintaining cleanliness during and after the festival has always been a significant challenge for the district administration, she said.
Giving details of manpower deployed for cleanliness drive, Deputy Commissioner said that over 525 safari sewaks were engaged in this mission and were monitored directly by their immediate seniors as whole festival grounds were divided into the 8 sectors and 4 zones likewise Kumbh Mela. A cleaning roster was established, and the safai sevaks worked in two shifts to minimize traffic congestion – from 3:00 am to 6:00 amand from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am.
Dr. Preeti Yadav further said that to achieve this feat, the district administration has created GIS maps and with the help of GIS sanitation route, maps were developed. With the same data a website and mobile application were developed by Smart IT Ventures to guide pilgrims with basic amenities during the Hola Mohalla festival. The map involved mapping of dustbins, langars, water through, portable washroom vans, MRF location, sweeping machine route map, and many more. The map was also shared with the police department to ensure hassle-free movement of sanitation vehicles throughout the festival grounds without causing traffic jams.
Lauding the work done by safai sevaks and MRF center teams, she said that active participation of safai sevaks was a crucial factor, as they collected waste from various sources and transported it to the 5 MRF centers using garbage vans. The successful implementation of a clean and hygienic environment during the Hola Mohalla festival was a result of meticulous planning and execution.
She said that safety and health of the safai sevaks were also ensured by providing essential safety equipment such as hand gloves, boots, face masks, and gloves. Senior officers also participated with the safai sevaks, motivating and encouraging them to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the festival.
(royalpatiala.in News)
