39,600 tons wet waste collected at Hola Mohalla in Anandpur Sahib to be converted into organic fertilizer

PATIALA: With an aim to achieve 100 percent sanitation and cleanliness throughout Hola Mohalla event at Sri Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib of Ropar, the safai sewaks and volunteers and citizens collected various types of waste at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) centers and more than 39,600 tons of wet waste was collected which will now be converted into organic fertilizer within a month.
In addition, 2,355 kg of plastic envelopes and 1,575 kg of plastic materials will be recycled as these were compressed into bales. Around 129 kg of iron, 254 kg of glass, 239 kg of cardboard, and 2,185 kg of other waste has also been disposed off properly.
Over 525 safai sewaks were engaged in this mission and were being monitored directly by their immediate seniors. The festival grounds were divided into the eight sectors and four zones. A cleaning roster was established, and the safai sevaks worked in two shifts to minimize traffic congestion - from 3:00 am to 6am and from 8pm to 12.01am.
To achieve this feat, the district administration created GIS maps and with the help of GIS sanitation route, maps were developed. With the same data, a website and mobile application were developed by Smart IT Ventures to guide pilgrims with basic amenities during the Hola Mohalla festival. The map involved mapping of dustbins, langars, water through, portable washroom vans, MRF location, sweeping machine route map, and many more. The map was also shared with the police department to ensure hassle-free movement of sanitation vehicles throughout the festival grounds without causing traffic jams.
Ropar Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav said, “Each year, over 40 lakh devotees, tourists, and locals gather in Kiratpur Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib to celebrate the festivities. However, maintaining cleanliness during and after the festival has always been a significant challenge for the district administration”.
Lauding the work done by safai sevaks and MRF center teams, Preeti Yadav said that active participation of safai sevaks was a crucial factor, as they collected waste from various sources and transported it to the five MRF centers using garbage vans. “The successful implementation of a clean and hygienic environment during the Hola Mohalla festival was a result of meticulous planning and execution. The safety and health of the safai sevaks were also ensured by providing essential safety equipment such as hand gloves, boots, face masks, and gloves. Senior officers also participated with the safai sevaks, motivating and encouraging them to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the festival”.