Port Blair, Sept. 8: The Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) is committed to celebrate this year's Puja Festivals with a special focus on creating Zero Waste Events, aligning with the Swachh Survekshan 2024 under the Swachh Bharat Mission. PBMC is making all possible efforts to keep the city clean, intact and waste-free, and is encouraging citizens to take active steps toward sustainable waste management. The Council is especially emphasizing waste segregation into dry and wet waste categories and waste reduction, particularly targeting the reduction of single-use plastic, which tends to increase during festival celebrations, especially during the distribution of Prasad.
A marking scheme has been developed to evaluate and encourage the following key initiatives among Puja Committees:
-Proper use of blue and green dustbins and ensuring sufficient availability at Puja Pandals.
-Avoidance of plastic and butter paper for lining plates used for food distribution.
-Replacing plastic and paper glasses with steel alternatives.
-Utilizing sustainable plates such as those made from steel, banana leaves, leafy plates, etc. Plates made of cardboard with plastic coatings should be avoided.
-Ensuring that decoration materials post-celebration are collected separately and handed over to the respective Ward Sanitary Inspectors for recycling at designated Dry Resource Centres across the city.
-Special emphasis will be placed on reducing food wastage during the celebrations
To further promote environmental awareness, the Puja Committees have been encouraged to display proper signages and make relevant announcements on waste management practices. The PBMC Inspection team will conduct surprise visits to evaluate the Puja Pandals based on these criteria. The Best 10 Puja Pandals will be awarded Rs. 10,000 cash prizes, along with trophies and certificates. The total evaluation marks will be 10, and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for participation and evaluation will be available on PBMC’s portal at https://pbmc.gov.in/.
In view of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, PBMC reminds all citizens to comply with the provisions of the Solid Waste (Handling & Management) Bye-Laws, 2017 and the Andaman & Nicobar Idol Immersion Rules, 2018, ensuring safe and environmentally responsible disposal of waste during idol immersion ceremonies.
All Idol Makers, Puja Committees and Puja Pandal In-charges have been directed to observe the following instructions:
-Burning of solid waste is strictly prohibited.
-Sufficient waste bins should be provided at Puja Pandals.
-Collected waste should be disposed of in PBMC-designated dustbins.
-Necessary fire safety precautions must be implemented.
-Devotees are requested to dispose of waste only in the provided waste bins.
-Worship materials should be collected and disposed of as per religious rituals, without harming the environment or surroundings.
-Loudspeakers, public addressing systems, and music systems may only be used after receiving written permission from the competent authority.
-High-sounding instruments should not be played between 10 pm and 6 am.
-Puja Committees must comply with guidelines on Idol Immersion and the directives of the National Green Tribunal.
PBMC has sought the cooperation of all residents to make this festive season a Zero Waste celebration and to contribute towards a cleaner, greener and healthier city.