RMC launches Swacchata He Sewa initiative

 

The Raipur Municipal Corporation has initiated a comprehensive cleanliness awareness campaign under Swachhata He Seva initiative. This campaign, which will run until October 2, 2024, Gandhi Jayanti, aims to promote cleanliness. On National Clean Air Day, September 7, 2024, a significant public awareness event was held at the C&D (Construction and Demolition) waste processing plant in Jarwai Hirapur, Raipur. This event focused on controlling air pollution caused by construction activities, improving the city’s air quality, and promoting the reuse of construction waste. Key officials present at the event included Additional Commissioner of Raipur Municipal Corporation, Vinod Pandey; Superintending Engineer, Imran Khan; and Subject Expert Scientist, Naveen Chandra Malviya from the Chhattisgarh State Environment Protection Board. Representatives from various municipal zones and departments, including engineers and assistant engineers, also participated in the event. Prasanna Sonkar from the Chhattisgarh State Environment Protection Board administered a collective oath to all attendees, encouraging them to adopt environmentally friendly practices in their daily lives as part of Mission Life. Naveen Chandra Malviya provided insights into the growing issue of air pollution in Raipur, emphasizing that C&D waste contributes significantly, accounting for 38% of the city’s air pollution.

 

He stressed the importance of implementing effective measures to improve air quality, particularly in a rapidly developing city like Raipur. Malviya highlighted the need to avoid future scenarios where citizens might have to invest heavily in clean air initiatives. The event underscored the necessity for full compliance with the C&D Waste Management Rules 2016, issued by the Government of India. Malviya urged municipal engineers to ensure that green nets are installed at construction sites, as required by rules, to minimize air pollution. Additional Commissioner Vinod Pandey encouraged all government departments, private builders, and colonizers to direct their C&D waste to the Hirapur Jarwai C&D Waste Plant for proper processing. Superintending Engineer Imran Khan highlighted the need to seize construction materials found on roads and fine the responsible parties. He also reiterated the importance of daily enforcement of waste management rules and the mandatory installation of green nets on large construction sites. Assistant Engineer of Swachh Bharat Mission branch, Yogesh Kadu, provided detailed information about the C&D Waste Management Rules 2016 and relevant bylaws of State Government.