Dehradun, Apr 30 (PTI) The Kedarnath Nagar Panchayat has collected and processed over 1,000 kg of plastic waste during the first week of the Char Dham Yatra following Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s ‘green pilgrimage’ initiative, officials said on Thursday.
The doors of the Himalayan shrine were opened on April 22.
According to the officials, the civic body has set up a 3,000-square-foot Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Kedarnath to manage the heavy influx of solid waste.
The collected waste is being segregated into 15 distinct categories, including plastic, glass, tin and cloth.
“We have processed over 1,000 kg of plastic waste in the first week using compactor machines that compress bottles into 30 to 40 kg bundles,” said Neeraj Kukreti, Executive Officer of the Nagar Panchayat.
The official added that the processed waste will be sold to generate revenue for the local body. Glass and tin waste are being transported to Sonprayag to be sold as scrap.
The administration deployed a team of 55 sanitation workers to maintain cleanliness in two shifts at the shrine. A separate agency oversees waste management along the trek route to ensure the high-altitude pilgrimage site remains litter-free.
The authorities are also constructing permanent pits for the disposal of biodegradable wet waste.
The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to tourists during his recent visit to Dehradun to avoid single-use plastics to protect Uttarakhand’s fragile ecology.
“Uttarakhand is known for its delicate ecosystem. We appeal to every pilgrim not to litter,” Chief Minister Dhami said.
He added that the state government is making every effort to protect the environment of the holy rivers and the Himalayas. PTI AKY AKY HIG HIG
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