Volunteers Tackle Plastic Waste at Odisha Shrines

In an effort to combat plastic pollution, a collaborative campaign was recently launched in Ganjam district, Odisha. Students, forest department personnel, and local volunteers united to collect single-use plastic and garbage surrounding the sacred Tara Tarini and Bateswar shrines. This drive is a key component of a broader initiative by the forest department and the state pollution control board to establish plastic-free picnic areas.

The collected waste was promptly transferred to the civic bodies in Purushottampur and Ganjam for appropriate management and disposal. Alongside the clean-up efforts, awareness meetings were organized. Officials from the forest department and the pollution control board educated the public about the detrimental health impacts of single-use plastic.

This campaign is slated to expand to other popular picnic spots within the district. The initiative holds particular importance for the Bateswar Temple, located near the Rushikulya river mouth, a critical nesting site for Olive Ridley sea turtles. Banners and posters will also be displayed at these locations, urging visitors to reduce their plastic consumption.