Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Pelling moves closer to Zero Waste status, forms ‘Friends of Green Pelling’

GANGTOK, 31 July: A workshop cum sensitization program on Solid Waste Management towards making Pelling a “Zero-Waste” town was organised at the conference room of Hotel Sonamchen in Pelling, West Sikkim on 29 July, informs a press release.
The program which was chaired by the West Zilla Adhyaksha, Karma Chuki Bhutia, was coordinated and assisted by the members of Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee [KCC], Yuksom.

The workshop was initiated by the Rural Management & Development Department with the support of Singyang Chombong GPU and Block Administrative Centre, Gyalshing. A resource person from Kerala, Shibu K. Nair, spoke on the principles, components and policies to be adopted concerning the project while Kishan Singh, representing Maple Ortech, spoke on the composting procedure using EM solution.
BDO Yangyang shared the experience of his project on composting of manure using cow-dung which has already been started in his block. Representatives of KCC, Yuksam also presented a project on Zero Waste Himalayas.
BDO, Gyalshing, Hemant Rai, while welcoming the participants spoke on the objectives of holding such a program and urged all stakeholders to find a way out following the workshop to initiate the project in Pelling to make it a zero waste zone.
He presented data on the number of hotels, resorts and restaurants in existence and the subsequent increase in the volume of domestic waste that emanates from each source which has to be managed properly, the release informs.
He expressed that given the volume of waste that each source generates on a daily basis and given the distinction of Pelling, being one of the popular tourist destinations, the project of waste-management for Pelling has been approved by the department with support being extended in terms of construction of sheds for disposal of all forms of waste with a new utility vehicle being provided for transportation of waste for the project in Pelling.
Deputy Secretary, Sanitation, Hissey Yongda, representing the Department, presented an overview of sanitation in Sikkim with special focus on Solid Waste Management and the initiatives being taken by the Department.
“With the Nirmal Rajya status being conferred on Sikkim, our responsibilities have increased manifold to sustain it and solid waste management program is one such program which can help sustain this,” she mentioned.
The participants also shared their views on strategies being adopted after a presentation session which culminated in the formation of a working group - “Friends of Green Pelling” - which will prepare an action plan soon to initiate the project, the release further informs.
The working group is headed by the Zilla Adhyaksha with seven other prominent persons from the are and will be supported by Mr Nair from Kerala and KCC, Yuksom.
The Adhyaksha in her concluding remarks applauded the efforts being taken by the Sanitation wing of the Department and all those involved in the project and announced initial grants of Rs. 1 lakh to the committee to begin with, for initiating the project from Zilla Grants as a token of appreciation for the initiatives being taken, the release mentions.
All hoteliers, stakeholders, teachers representing Pelling SS, Councillors of Gyalshing Nagar Panchayat and members of Pelling Tourist Development Association participated in the program.

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