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Pavagadh Temple Overwhelmed by Plastic Waste After Navratri
23 Oct
Summary
- Nearly 35,000 kg of plastic waste collected after Navratri festival.
- Footfall during Navratri was 40% higher than the previous year.
- Plastic ban considered but postponed due to shopkeeper stock.
The monsoon-kissed Pavagadh, a revered Shakti Peetha, was marred by a staggering 35,000 kg of plastic waste collected after the recent Navratri celebrations. The hill shrine saw an approximate 40% increase in devotees compared to the previous year, leading to extensive littering of plastic packaging and bottles.
Sanitation workers removed daily large quantities of garbage from the valley and roads. The waste was transported via ropeway trolleys and donkeys to trucks for disposal. Authorities had considered a ban on single-use plastics, especially bottled water, for this year's festival.
However, the ban was postponed to next year to mitigate financial hardship for shopkeepers who had already stocked bottled water. Plans are underway to introduce biodegradable water bottles and install more water coolers from the following year.
