PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
A cleanliness drive and awareness programme was organised at Lakshman Siddh temple in Harrawala and the adjoining forest area on Friday under the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign. The drive was jointly conducted by the local councillor, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD), Forest department and NGO Waste Warriors.
Participants collected plastic and other waste from the temple premises and surrounding forest area through voluntary community service. The collected plastic waste was sent to a Waste Warriors sanitation centre for proper management and processing.
During the programme, devotees and local residents were urged to keep the temple premises and surrounding forest clean and avoid littering. The a
ssistant director of Waste Warriors Naveen Kumar Sadana said that maintaining cleanliness at religious sites and natural areas was a collective responsibility. He said that the organisation had already provided four dustbins at the Lakshman Siddh temple to facilitate proper waste collection.
The organisation had also provided a set of steel utensils for use during the community kitchen (langar) to reduce dependence on disposable utensils and encourage environmentally friendly practices.
Sadana said that regular cleaning alone was not enough to ensure long-term cleanliness, adding that preventing waste generation and ensuring its proper disposal were equally important. He stressed the need for active participation from local residents, devotees and concerned departments to maintain clean surroundings.
The programme also highlighted the importance of preserving the sanctity of religious places, the natural beauty of forest areas and the environment.
Swachh Bharat Mission brand ambassador of the MCD Bharat Sharma and others also participated in the drive. Members of the MCD, Waste Warriors, Forest department, local community and Sarathi organisation were also present.
