EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, JULY 02 – Mayor, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mr. Salman Sagar and Commissioner, SMC have said that SMC will not sit on its laurels and strive to remove the last bag of polythene from Srinagar city to restore its pristine glory, as it is abode of great sufi saints and aulias.
Welcoming 600 volunteers who have travelled from all over the country to pick up threads from SMC in its successful anti-polythene drive, Commissioner SMC said Kashmir is a paradise and abode of sufis and saints, who taught us lessons in peace, love and harmony. He said it is the moral obligation of the inhabitants of this beautiful Valley to protect its serene environs from the toxic hazards of non-biodegradable wastes like polythene.
Eminent Gandhians, Dr. S. N. Subbharao and Mr. S.P. Verma, Director, Youth Services and Sports, Mr. Shafiq Ahmad Raina, Deputy Director, Youth Services & Sports, Ms. Gulshan Ara, Chairperson, Gandhi Peace foundation, Ms. Radha Bhat, senior officers of the SMC and dignitaries attended the function.
The Mayor and Commissioner were addressing the volunteers during the introductory function of the eight-day Peace and Harmony Youth Camp for cleaning various water bodies of Srinagar city, besides the Lal Ded Maternity Hospital. The function was organized by National Youth Project, in collaboration with Youth Services & Supports Department, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Youth Hostel Association and Gandhian workers.
Mr. Salman, while addressing the participants, asked young men and women to strive hard for saving environment from degradation. He said the youth have a crucial role to play, as they are architects of tomorrow.
These young volunteers have come from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Punjab, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. “Victory to the whole world” is the popular slogan among the volunteers and they use tools like manual community work, mass games and other tools. They have come to learn from SMC how they succeeded in its drive against polythene.
On this occasion, he also raised the slogan of “Kashmir Hamara Payara Hai, Sheikh-ul-Aalam hamara hai” which reverberated in the hall when participating delegates recited it.
Urging youth to participate in similar camps, the Commissioner asked them to visit various holy shrines of the valley, perched in heavenly environment.
Dr. Subbharoa, in his address, called for preserving water-bodies from pollution as water is precious. He also stressed on maintaining ecological balance by ensuring safety of wildlife and natural beauty of Kashmir.
Mr. Raina, while welcoming delegates of various states to the camp said such activities help in strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and national integration.
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