DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UPCB) has released three specialised mobile stations along the Char Dham route for single-use plastic monitoring, enforcement and public sensitisation.
UPCB is the regulatory body for waste management in the state. However, during the yatra season, the urban local bodies have so far been solely responsible for waste management. This is the first time that the board is getting actively involved with public participation.
The mobile vehicles will operate from base stations of Rishikesh (to monitor Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar and Tehri region), Uttarkashi (for Gangotri, Yamunotri, Gaumukh) and Rudraprayag (Badrinath, Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib). “The vehicles will sensitise the public about banned single-use items. Plastic waste has become a huge challenge especially during the Char Dham yatra. The stations will monitor and report about the ground situation,” said RK Sudhanshu, chairman, UPCB.
The main focus will be on enforcement, monitoring and awareness. The programme will be completed in two phases — first phase till July end, and second from September to November.
