Haridwar to be polythene free from Dec. 18

P.S. Chauhan

There is good news on the front of environment protection and sanitation. Haridwar is going to be one of the few cities in the state, which will be completely free from polythene menace. The district administration has pulled up its socks to create social awareness on the issue and ban the use of all sorts of polythene items. Various social organizations and all segments of society, including the sant community, the Ganga Sabha, the Vyapar Mandal, the industries association and the educational institutions, have responded positively to this initiative of the administration.

Various rallies have been organized in the city by different organizations to create public opinion against polythene. A huge rally, under the aegis of the press club, was organized. The rally, flagged off by Dr. Pranav Pandya, the chief of the Shanti Kunj and chancellor of the Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya and attended by thousands of citizens and students from various educational institutions, passed through the main streets of the city up to Har-Ki-Pauri. The participants in the rally, wearing white caps, carried banners and placards and shouted slogans such as "Polythene Hatao, Paryavaran Bachao". Addressing the rally, Ramanandacharya Swami Hansdevacharya said that Polythene was the major source of pollution in the city as it choked the drains and sewers and polluted the Ganga. Kailash Keshwani, the president of the district Vyapar Mandal exhorted the business community to eschew the use of polythene items to keep the city clean. Acharya Bal Krishan, the secretary general of the Patanjali Yog Peeth and vice chancellor of the Patanjali University of Yoga and Ayurveda said that polythene, which is an non biogradable substance and is a serious great threat to environment. Thousands of bags made from paper and cloth were distributed in the city on the occasion. Among others, the president of the Regional Industries Association (Garhwal region), Harendra Garg, the SSP, Sanjay Gunjyal, a senior official from the BHEL, Rajiv Bhatnagar and the president of the press club, Brijendra Harsh. participated in the huge rally. An oath was administered to the participants in the rally that they will not use polythene and will persuade others also for the same.

The city magistrate, Shree Dhar Babu, who is spearheading the drive against polythene, told Haridwar Plus that from December 8 to December 18, five teams, each consisting of a magistrate and public representatives, will take away the polythene items from those who are found using or selling these items and let them go with a warning. "After December 18, punishment, including fine, depending on the weight and number of the polythene items, will be imposed on the users and the sellers of these banned items," informed the city magistrate.

"Our main objective is to make the holy city an ideal city. The message which emanates from here will disseminate throughout the whole country," says Kamal Jora, the chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad.