District panchayat to join ‘plastic-free Sabarimala’ drive

The Pathanamthitta district panchayat will join the plastic-free Sabarimala campaign, jointly launched by the district administration, Sanitation Mission, and the Kudumbasree Mission.

District panchayat president R. Haridas Edathitta will inaugurate the campaign at a function to be held at Laha on the Mannarakulanji-Pampa main trunk road leading to Sabarimala on Monday.

The novel project was launched by the district administration on the eve of the previous annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season. District Collector S. Harikishore will preside over the function.

According to the district panchayat president, Pampa-bound vehicles will be stopped at different points and volunteers will supply eco-friendly cloth bags to pilgrims in exchange for the plastic bags with them.

The volunteers will make the Sabarimala-bound people aware of the importance of keeping the pilgrim centre, situated in the verdant Periyar Tiger Reserve, plastic-free and waste-free.

Mr. Haridas said the panchayat volunteers would distribute pamphlets and stickers carrying messages on the importance of keeping Sabarimala plastic-free in different south Indian languages.