KATRA: A 2-day Swachh Trikuta Parvat Abhiyaan organised by the International Volunteer Foundation (IVF), Jammu in collaboration with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for enlarging awareness about the conservation of environment and ecology of the Trikuta Hills commenced from today. A large number of volunteers of IVF and the students of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Kakryal and Government Higher Secondary School, Katra are participating in it. Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, flagged off the participants of the Swachh Trikuta Parvat Abhiyaan at a function held at Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra.

The participants of the Abhiyaan will enlarge the awareness among all the pilgrims, shopkeepers and the public at large about the crucial need for conservation of environment and ecology of the Trikuta Hills. Carrying banners and placards in their hands with slogans like ‘help us to keep Trikuta Hills clean, green and plastic free’ and ‘use dustbins’, they shall conduct a tour from Katra to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. Speaking on the occasion, the CEO of the Shrine Board complimented the efforts of the IVF for enlarging awareness about the cleanliness and ensuring sanitation in and around Katra and conservation of environment and ecology of Trikuta Hills.

The CEO gave details of the various initiatives taken by the Shrine Board for ensuring sanitation and cleanliness along the tracks and conservation of environment and ecology of Trikuta Hills. Referring to the measures being taken by the Board for implementing green technologies in a big way, he said that the Board has set up a mule dung based biogas plant at Banganga, which is first of its kind in the country. The use of solar energy is also being promoted by setting up solar power plants and solar water heating systems. A number of Sewage Treatment Plants have been installed for waste water treatment at various locations on the track, in the Bhawan area and at different complexes of the Board, while this facility is being further expanded. 

Similarly, rain water harvesting is being promoted in various buildings of the Board and till date this capacity has gone upto 6.50 lakh litres, while efforts are continuing to increase it further by installing similar facilities in all the complexes of the Board. He also informed that to ensure optimum cleanliness and sanitation on the track and in the Shrine area more than 700 Safai Karamcharis of the Shrine Board are working for the purpose, besides launching special sanitation drives from time to time. He stated that wire mesh fencing has been erected on more than 16 km stretch of the track so far to ensure against anyone throwing waste on the hills along the track. He also referred to the Greening Action Plan being implemented by the Board and gave details of plantations undertaken by the Forest Wing of the Board till date, future action plan and establishment of a hi-tech nursery at Kunian, near Panthal. 

Mr. Kiran Kumar Sharma, Chairman, IVF, speaking on the occasion said that this is the 4^th edition of ‘Save the Trikuta Mountains Awareness Campaign Series’ organised by the IVF. He gave details of the aims and objectives of organising the awareness campaign and the organisations who are participating in this initiative. Earlier, artists of Ek Sath Rang Mandal organised a street play on the theme of sanitation on the occasion which was highly appreciated by the audience. The street play was also organized at Darshani Deodi. Among those present on the occasion were Mr. Devinder Singh Bhau, Dy. CEO, SMVDSB, other officers and staff of the Shrine Board, representatives of Taxi Operators Union, Katra and Railway Station, Jammu and participants of the awareness campaign.