Parkash Purab: City students form ‘Green Brigade’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 14

Students of the Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology (KCET), Amritsar, formed and led the ‘Green Brigade’ to clean the litter after a nagar kirtan procession was taken out to celebrate the Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Cleaning roads before taking out nagar kirtan processions is an age-old tradition and volunteers were present in huge numbers to clean streets in the night as well as wee hours prior to the nagar kirtan.

Spreading awareness about the importance of ensuring cleanliness of the city surroundings after religious events of grandeur, volunteers of EcoAmritsar, an NGO, too joined them.

“A large number of devotees arranged ‘langar’ for the sangat and in the process, they littered the roads with disposable items and wrappers. The ‘Green Brigade’ has been silently but consistently doing the cleaning after the nagar kirtan in addition to requesting langar organisers to celebrate the events keeping the ecological health of the city in mind,” said Tarundeep Singh, project administrator, EcoAmritsar.

“It is heartening to see that some people this year have again started using disposable plates made of leaves (pattal) to cut down on harmful effects. We are sure that with the support of the SGPC and the city administration, continuous efforts will bring us back to responsible ways of celebration,” he added.

The students of KCET and safai sewaks of Kaar Sewa Baba Bhuri Waale showed exemplary efforts to give a cleaner look to the littered streets.

“We have been a part of such efforts ever since these were started by EcoAmritsar and intend to constantly do our bit for the city,” said Kanwalpreet Singh Judge, a student volunteer.

Gunbir Singh, Chairman, EcoAmritsar, also encouraged the efforts of the volunteers by citing these small steps as significant.

“Cleanliness drives are but a small measure to constantly raise awareness about the importance of this very aspect. We are concerned about the rankings of our city as far as the cleanliness index is concerned. Residents of the city will surely do their bit to reverse the disturbing reality,” he said.

Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman, EcoSikh, also shared his views from the US.

“The diaspora loves and adores the city of Amritsar and is always concerned about its ecological well being. We are sure that with the efforts of residents, a change is just around the corner,” he stated.