PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
Under the direction of the forest range officer, North Gaula Forest, Vijay Chandra Bhatt, the team of Paharpani section inspected the area around the hotels and dhabas located in Pokhara Khet and Paharpani area and
pulled them up for not properly disposing of garbage, directing them to ensure proper disposal, particularly of the plastic waste.
During this inspection, the forest department team clearly instructed the hotel and restaurant operators to ensure that the forest areas are not littered.
Following the forest officer’s directives, a special cleanliness drive was also launched in the region, encompassing extensive cleaning work in the forest panchayat and reserved forest areas. During the campaign, plastic waste and other waste materials, found scattered at various locations, were properly disposed of. Sawdust was also properly disposed of in sensitive areas to prevent the possibility of forest fires.
During the campaign, hotel and restaurant operators were informed that under the Uttarakhand Plastic and Other Non-Biodegradable Waste Use and Disposal Regulation Act, dumping plastic or other non-biodegradable waste in forest areas, public places, drains and water sources is a punishable offence. They were further informed that under the Act, it is mandatory for such establishments to collect and properly dispose of the waste generated on their premises. In the future, if anyone is found violating these rules, strict and firm action will be taken against them as per the regulations, the forest officer warned.
Apart from the hotel and dhaba operators, local villagers and women were also made aware about cleanliness, plastic free environment and forest conservation. The people present were given information about the ill- effects of plastic waste and the damage caused by forest fire and were motivated to cooperate in environmental conservation.
