Patna: A new campaign titled “No Plastic Fantastic” has been launched at Patna’s Ganga Ghats with the aim of reducing pollution and protecting the river ahead of the festive season. Initiated under the Mission for Clean Ganga, the campaign will run across the city’s ghats until Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Municipal commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar directed that the programme be extended to markets and ward levels, where similar drives are already taking place. The initiative will focus on both cleaning the ghats and educating the public about the environmental risks of plastic waste.
The first phase of the campaign began at JP Setu Ghat, where volunteers from Being Helper Foundation removed 27 kg of plastic waste, including polythene bags, food containers and remnants of worship materials. The collected waste was handed over to Patna Municipal Corporation for disposal.
After the clean-up, locals and devotees were urged not to bring plastic items to the ghats during worship. Instead, campaigners encouraged the use of eco-friendly options such as cloth bags, leaf baskets and earthen lamps.
Shubham Kumar, brand ambassador of Budko, stressed the importance of public participation: “During Puja, around 1,75,000 devotees visit the ghats. At this time, idol immersions and worship material often end up in the river in plastic bags, polluting the Ganga. Our aim is to save the river by raising awareness during these festivals.”
The campaign’s key messages include:
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Do not immerse plastic items in the Ganga
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Avoid single-use plastic during worship and immersion
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Adopt sustainable alternatives for rituals
Namami Gange and Patna Municipal Corporation have appealed to citizens to pledge to celebrate a plastic-free festive season and maintain the purity of the Ganga.
