NEW DELHI: The facade and corridors of the iconic Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai is getting restored with INTACH in role of a consultant, Tirupati is shifting to a remote-monitored LED lighting system to save energy, the Yamunotri Yatra route is getting Wi-Fi internet connectivity while the ancient drains of Taj Mahal in Agra are being revived. All these places are now also turning plastic-free.
Officials involved in the project said a major component has been installation of drinking water facility, ATMs, bio-toilets and underground waste collection bins at most locations.
In a project close to the Prime Minister’s heart, corporates and leading Public Sector Units (PSUs) have helped the Centre clean up and improve 20 such iconic tourist places making the government now select 10 more iconic places like Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh and the last village on Indo-Tiber border, Mana, and urge for a plastic ban at all these places.
Corporates like IOC, GAIL, Idea Cellular, NALCO, NHPC and SBI have picked a place each or two, to pitch in as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Officials involved in the project said a major component has been installation of drinking water facility, ATMs, bio-toilets and underground waste collection bins at most locations, like at Jagannath Temple in Puri and Golden Temple in Amritsar and starting battery operated vehicles at Tirupati or advanced mechanised cleaning and sweeping facilities at places like Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. Challenges were also identified first.
Like the Charminar in Hyderabad, which has been adopted by NTPC, was found to have no comprehensive master plan for sewerage and it was discovered that untreated sewage from Charminar complex was released into water bodies. Similarly, the Convent and Church of St Francis of Assisi in Goa, that has been adopted by Airports Authority of India, had no good modern public toilets or well-designed pedestrian walkways besides a failing old sewerage network.
The Gangotri Temple in Uttarakhand, adopted by ONGC, was found to have a weak communication network. The Hindustan Zinc Limited, which adopted Ajmer Sharif Dargah, has worked with the government on a shelter for rehabilitation of beggars and developing a sewer line around the Dargah area. At the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in J&K, IOC has helped the government to have LED lighting on the temple track. “The temple trust at Tirupati is aiming to manage solid and liquid waste and modernise sweeping in a socially sensitive and environment friendly manner to ensure worldclass standards of Swachhta,” an official said. ONGC and NLC are PSU partners here.
Article Source: Economic Times