In a significant community-driven initiative, students, forest department personnel, and local volunteers united for a cleanliness drive at two prominent religious sites in Odisha's Ganjam district on Saturday. The collaborative effort focused on collecting single-use plastic and other garbage littered around the Tara Tarini and Bateswar shrines.
A Collective Push for Plastic-Free Picnics
The cleanup was a core part of the 'Single-use plastic-free picnic campaign' jointly organized by the state's forest department and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB). Officials stated that all the collected waste, primarily comprising disposable plastic items, was formally handed over to the civic bodies in Purushottampur and Ganjam for proper and scientific disposal.
Alongside the physical cleaning activity, awareness meetings were conducted at the sites. Officers from the forest and pollution control boards addressed the gathering, explaining the severe health and environmental hazards posed by single-use plastics. The senior leadership present included Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF) of Berhampur, V Neelannavar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Berhampur, Sunny Khokar, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of Khallikote, Dibya Shankar Behera, and Berhampur Regional Officer of OSPCB, Deepak Sahoo.
Protecting Critical Ecosystems and Expanding the Campaign
The RCCF, V Neelannavar, announced that similar campaigning and cleanup drives would be extended to other popular picnic spots across the district to curb the menace of plastic pollution effectively. The initiative at the Bateswar Temple holds particular ecological importance due to its proximity to the Rushikulya river mouth. This very coastline serves as a mass nesting ground for thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles every year between February and March. Plastic waste in this area poses a direct threat to these endangered marine creatures.
While the Tara Tarini Temple is located near Purushottampur, the Bateswar shrine is situated close to the Ganjam NAC. Highlighting the seasonal challenge, ACF Dibya Shankar Behera noted, "Several people from across Ganjam, other districts, and even states come for picnics during the winter season." He added that beyond awareness sessions, the department plans to install banners and posters at picnic spots, appealing directly to visitors to abandon the use of single-use plastic and help preserve the natural beauty of these locations.
A Model for Community-Led Conservation
This drive marks a proactive step by authorities to engage the community, especially the youth, in environmental stewardship. By targeting popular picnic and pilgrimage sites, the campaign directly addresses points of significant waste generation. The integration of awareness with actionable cleanup, coupled with plans for sustained efforts and visible signage, presents a holistic model to tackle plastic pollution at the source, safeguarding both public health and fragile ecosystems like the Rushikulya rookery.
