This Kumbh, India Can Set An Example For The World About Waste Management And Recycling, Here Is How

We are just a few hours away from the Ardh Kumbh in Prayagraj, the largest religious gathering anywhere in the world. As the world will looking towards India, it is the best time for us to spread the message of effective waste management and care to mother earth.

The Environment Ministry is planning to make the Ardh Kumbh Mela single use plastic-free in line with the country's commitment to eliminate single-use plastics by 2022.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the need for implementation of the "golden principle" of 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle –to ensure better waste management in the country.

PTI

Keeping this in mind, here are some of the simple but effective steps that we can follow and thereby sent out a message to the world.

The upcoming Kumbh also presents a unique opportunity to cleanse the sins committed to mother earth in the form of littering of single-use plastics.?

AP

The biggest challenge in such a mass gathering is proper disposal of waste. Every item of single-use plastic which doesn’t get properly disposed or recycled will add up to the already alarming pollution levels of our holy rivers.

REUTERS

“The upcoming Ardh Kumbh is the largest gathering of humanity, with millions of Hindu ascetics, pilgrims and tourists from across the globe visiting, to take a dip at the Sangam. As one of the most revered spiritual organization in India, it is our responsibility to safeguard the religious sentiments of devotees by protecting the holy rivers - Ganga and Yamuna from pollution, specially from single-use plastics. We urge devotees attending the Ardh Kumbh to shun the use of single-use plastics like polythene bags, gutkha pouches, disposable cutlery, straws etc.? Other plastics like water and juice bottles can be recycled and should be responsibly disposed after use,” Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) & Co-founder of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance said.?

Swami also made an appealed to all the devotees to do their bit and protect the holy rivers.?

“We appeal devotees to pledge and set a precedent of plastic disposal and recycling during the upcoming Kumbh, so the world could follow our footsteps. This will help in protecting the holy rivers and reinstate India’s ancient position of ‘World-Guru’ to lead humanity towards a sustainable future”, he said.?

BCCL

Indiscriminate disposal of industrial effluents and domestic waste have polluted the waters of our holy rivers for years altogether. The government sanctioned a budget outlay of Rs 20,000 crore for Namami Gange Programme in Oct’16.?

In line with the government’s vision, the need of the hour is to drive awareness, in association with communities, NGOs, students and other stakeholders, to ensure better implementation of waste management and plastic recycling mechanism during the Ardh Kumbh.

BCCL

“Plastics have become inherent part of our daily lives. However, we throw the used plastics pouches, wrappers, sachets (of Gutka, masalas etc.) indiscriminately. These plastic products do not get collected properly and spread in the surrounding and affect rivers, nallahs, birds and many living animals", Dr. D.D. Kale, Member of Expert Committee to Define Single-Use Plastics, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India said.

"I urge devotees to not litter and put the waste in the dustbins provided around. Different bins are provided for discarding plastic, metal and glass. The plastic collected from these bins will be recycled. PET bottles used to carry drinking water can be easily recycled. Other plastic products can also be recycled if collected properly”, he added.?

AFP

Plastics like water bottles/jars (PET), buckets, mugs can be collected and recycled. Post usage, it can be recycled multiple times to create various everyday use products like T-shirts, bags, pillows, mattresses etc.