Patna: To boost sustainability and cleanliness, the Saras Mela, to be organised from December 12 at the Gandhi Maidan in the state capital, will be a zero-waste event.
To earn a good ranking in the Swachh Survekshan-2024, the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) is aiming to make the 15-day Saras Mela free of wastes. Patna municipal commissioner, Animesh Kumar Parashar, who is monitoring the preparations of the PMC team, said the fair ground will be maintained as a zero-waste area.
The Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (JEEVIKA) is organising the fair and has invited rural entrepreneurs and artisans to register for the fair to showcase their products.
“Thousands of visitors are expected to visit Gandhi Maidan during the fair. Every day, people gather for shopping and entertainment. During the fair, the waste generated will be disposed of at the fair ground itself. A special team from the PMC will collect dry waste and send it for processing to enable its reuse,” said Shweta Bhaskar, spokesperson of PMC.
Additionally, the PMC will set up a plant at the Gandhi Maidan for processing wet waste. This initiative aims to manage the waste generated from the fair.
“An awareness campaign will be run at the ground by the municipal staff for the visitors, to educate them about sanitation. The PMC team will set up a stall at the fair to raise awareness among the general public about Mission Total Segregation and the Swachh Survekshan-2024. Additionally, throughout the fair, messages will inform people about waste segregation, helpline numbers, and the facilities provided by the corporation. Various types of dustbins, pink toilets, drinking water, and special cleaning arrangements are being organised by the corporation,” added Bhaskar.