Following the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board today discussed the action plan for eco-friendly disposal of solid waste being generated en route the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
The shrine board convened a meeting of various stakeholders, including the residents of the Charanpaduka and Banganga areas, at the Spiritual Growth Centre in Katra to work out the action plan with regard to regularisation of equine movement on the track, disposal of mule dung and other solid wastes and cleaning of Banganga.
The NGT had issued directions to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the board to convene a meeting with stakeholders, including residents of Banganga and Charanpaduka, Union of Pithu and Ponies and sanitation staff of the board to prepare an action plan on the identified issues.
During the meeting, locals of Bangnaga and Charanpaduka suggested constructing additional toilets and a sewage treatment plant in the Banganga area to treat the waste water and to protect the Bangaga river from pollution. They also suggested river front development of Banganga to make it pilgrimage-friendly and free from garbage.
The meeting was told that residents had voluntarily started cleaning the area and in last one month, 700 bags of garbage had been collected and disposed of with the help of the local administration and the board.
The locals requested the CEO of the board to erect a fence at Banganga on the pattern of the track to protect it from littering.
Shrine board mulls disposal of solid waste in eco-friendly way
