Pahalgam Municipality Promotes Plastic-Free Yatra as Pilgrim Footfall Crosses 1.13 Lakh

Pahalgam, July 8, KNT: In a bid to promote environmental conservation during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, the Municipal Committee Pahalgam has launched a special awareness and cleanliness initiative by distributing reusable cotton bags among pilgrims and collecting polythene and other single-use plastic items from them.

As part of the campaign, municipal workers have been deployed at various locations across Pahalgam, where they are encouraging yatris carrying plastic bags to exchange them for reusable cotton bags. The collected polythene and plastic waste is being removed to prevent littering and reduce environmental pollution.

The initiative aims to spread the message of keeping the pilgrimage plastic-free and preserving the fragile ecology of the Kashmir Himalayas. Through direct interaction with pilgrims, municipal staff are urging visitors not to litter and to dispose of waste responsibly while undertaking the annual pilgrimage.

One of the officials told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the campaign is intended to minimize the environmental impact of the yatra and promote sustainable practices among the large number of devotees visiting the holy cave shrine.

The initiative comes amid a steady influx of pilgrims. According to official figures, more than 1.13 lakh devotees have performed darshan during the first five days of the annual pilgrimage.

The Municipal Committee has appealed to all pilgrims to cooperate with the campaign by avoiding single-use plastic and helping maintain the cleanliness and ecological balance of the yatra route. [KNT]