Plastic glasses left after 'chhabeels' on road a concern for green activists, MC

To provide relief to commuters travelling in scorching heat, social and religious organisations organise 'chhabeel' at various locations in the city as well as on state and national highways. However, the use of single-use plastic glasses and later dumps of used glasses along the roadsides have drawn criticism from environmental activists.

Executive member of Green Earth NGO Dr Naresh Bhardwaj, said “It is good to see people offering water and food to commuters in hot weather conditions to provide them relief, but the use of single-use plastic items have been a matter of concern. After the 'chhabeel' and Langar, a huge quantity of single-use plastic items including glasses, plates and spoons can be seen dumped along the road and in the drains. Though the district administration had launched drives to take action against the vendors selling and using the banned items, still it is being used openly.”

“Not only during 'chhabeels', but the religious organisations, fast-food cart operators and banquets are also flouting the directions. Instead of using the single-use plastic, environment-friendly items, including should be used. The organisations can use steel utensils to offer water in 'chhabeel' as it will serve their purpose without causing harm to environment. We have raised the matter in the past too with the local administration and we demand that appropriate directions must be issued by the authorities concerned in this regard”, he added.

Not only the NGO but the usage of plastic glasses has been a matter of concern for the Municipal Council authorities too. While on one hand, the municipal council is conducting sanitation drives and awareness camps to improve the sanitation conditions ahead of the upcoming state level International Yoga Day celebration, on the other hand, the use of single-use plastic continues unabated.

An official in the municipal council said a huge quantity of single-use plastic went into the drains causing blockade and it resulted in waterlogging during the rainy season. Though inspections were being conducted in the markets and the vendors were being sensitised not to use single-use plastic, people continued to use the banned items which was a matter of concern.

District Municipal Commissioner Satinder Siwach, said, “The use of single-use plastic is not allowed and regular checking will be organised in the city area. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities are being organised and challans are also being issued by the sanitation branch. A state-level International Yoga Day event is also scheduled to be held in Kurukshetra in which over 1 lakh people are expected and to improve the sanitation conditions, a special cleanliness drive is being run with the support of the National Highways Authority of India on the National Highway, Kurukshetra Development Board, Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran and Public Health Engineering Department.”

“Amid all activities, it has been observed that some organisations organise 'chhabeels' along the roadside and then a huge quantity of plastic glasses are left on the roads which has been a matter of concern. Directions have been issued to the sanitation branch to motivate such people not to use plastic-glasses else action will be taken. They should adopt environment friendly products for the good cause”, he added.