Rohtak: For more than three years, the ‘Suno Nahar Ki Pukaar’ campaign, driven by volunteers from various social backgrounds, has been actively combating pollution in Rohtak’s canals. Launched in Sep 2021 by Dr Jasmer Hooda, an associate professor at Jat College in Rohtak, the mission aims to curb the disposal of waste, including plastic bags, broken idols, and religious materials, into the canals.
Today, the campaign has grown significantly, with over 100 members, 50-60 of whom regularly participate in daily clean-up and public awareness activities along the canal banks. The initiative began when Jasmer Hooda witnessed waste being thrown into the JLN Canal. When he initially tried to dissuade people from doing so, he faced pushback from those citing religious practices. Undeterred, Jasmer dedicated time each morning and evening to educate the community on the importance of protecting the canals.
As the campaign expanded, volunteers joined and helped devise respectful alternatives that balanced religious customs with environmental preservation. Mukesh Nainkwal, the campaign’s general secretary, explained that the team had dug pits near the canals where people could deposit religious items. After the items are placed in these pits, a layer of Gangajal and soil is added. Broken idols are taken to Datauli Dham in Jind, where they are processed into bricks for temple construction, providing a sustainable solution that respects both faith and the environment.
The impact of ‘Suno Nahar Ki Pukaar’ extends beyond the canals. Many residents have begun burning worship materials at home and using the ashes as fertilizer for plants, rather than disposing of them directly into the water. Volunteers have also taken their awareness campaign to local schools, teaching future generations the value of eco-friendly practices.
Reflecting on the journey, Jasmer Hooda, who also serves as the campaign’s convenor, shared, “we visit the canal daily, holding placards for over two hours, urging people not to immerse idols or dispose of waste into the canal. Though we still find waste the next day, the amount has been steadily decreasing.”
The dedication of the volunteers has yielded visible results, with more residents refraining from discarding waste in the canals and some even joining the campaign as volunteers. Recently, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda commended the activists of ‘Suno Nahar Ki Pukaar’ for their continuous efforts to keep Rohtak’s canals clean.