An awareness rally to celebrate “Pugaiyilla Bhogi” (smokeless Bhogi) was flagged off by R. Vaithilingam, Housing and Urban Development Minister, at the railway station here on Sunday.
Organised on behalf of City Corporation, Vallam Town Panchayat and Orathanadu town panchayat, the rally went through Gandhiji Road, Rajah Mirasudhar Hospital Road and West Main Street to reach Sivaganga Park.
He said that burning discarded articles like clothes, broomsticks, other wastes, tyres, rubber, plastics during Bhogi festival pollutes the environment and causes irritation in eyes, nose and skin. It also leads to cancer and diseases like asthma. He urged people not to use plastics and segregate waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. N. Subbaiyan, Collector, K. Parasuraman, Thanjavur MP, R. K. Bharathi Mohan, Mayiladuthurai MP, MLAs M. Rangasamy (Thanjavur), M. Rathnasamy (Thiruvaiyaru), R. Duraikannu (Papanasam), Savithiri Gopal, City Corporation Mayor, participated in the rally.
