NONGSTOIN: The District Swachh Bharat Mission (G) West Khasi Hills with an aim to stop rampant littering along the National highway NH44E, on Friday organised a cleaning drive ‘Walk and Pick’ from Mawmaram to Nongshram, in West Khasi Hills.
The massive cleaning drive witnessed the participation of different NGOs which included KSU, FKJGP, HANM, HYC besides the residents along the national highway.
Three truckloads of garbage were picked along the national highway during the drive.
General Secretary of the KSU, WKHD Unit Rishot Kharbani said, “people from outside and passengers who ply on the NH 44E will have to know that West Khasi Hills is not a dustbin to dump garbage’. Strict rules will apply to check dumping of garbage, he added. He also urged all the passersby to cooperate and stop littering the National Highway.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Syiemlieh said that the objective of the ‘Walk and Pick’ programme is to create awareness and bring about behavioral change among the people so that while traveling along roads and highways they do not litter but instead take responsibility for properly disposing the waste they generate.
He also sought the cooperation of every citizen of West Khasi Hills especially those who reside along the National Highway NH 44 E to stop littering or face the consequences according to the law. Violators may also have to pay a fine of up to Rs 5,000, he added.
Fit India Movement
Meanwhile, along with the rest of the country, district administration of West Khasi Hills also conducted the Fit India Movement on Friday morning
Under the leadership of West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner T Lyngwa in collaboration with the members of the officer ‘s club, Apple Society of Nongstoin and Nature’s Club took part in a walk from Weinia Falls to Nongkhnum Island.
As part of Swacch Bharat or clean India the participants also conducted a cleaning drive by picking up trash along the way.
Lyngwa said that the programme was conducted as part of the Fit India Movement initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whereas as part of the Swacch Bharat “We are able to organise the `walk and pick’ during which trash was picked up on the way to Nongkhnum island.”
He also said that the main objective of the move is to create awareness among the locals and tourists to maintain cleanliness and stop littering specifically at tourist spots.