Jageshwar gets garbage disposal system

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, May 23

Jageshwar, the renowned cultural tourist centre of Almora district, will soon offer clean surroundings to tourists, as a compact machine has been installed near the Jageshwar temple to manage solid waste. Visitors in large numbers come to the temple to pay obeisance to the 12th Jotirlinga established between 7th and 12th century AD.

“We have decided to make arrangements for managing bio and non-bio waste in the temple town by providing every household and shopkeeper two dustbins for the purpose,” said Sachin Bansal, District Magistrate, Almora.

The district administration has installed the garbage disposal machine at a cost of Rs 5.50 lakh. The District Magistrate said while the bio-waste would be used in making vermicompost and the non-bio waste would be sent to Kathgodam for further use.

“The Jageshwar temple in Almora is visited by a large number of tourists. It has been without a proper garbage disposal system. All households have been throwing waste into the sacred Jadganga,” the District Magistrate said.

According to temple committee sources, the Jageshwar complex has over 124 temples constructed between 7th and 12th centuries AD. “The ancient temple complex is surrounded by a small town of priest community. They have been demanding a system of waste management in and around the temple complex. Two years ago, the management of the temple was handed over to a state government appointed committee,” he said.