RISHIKESH: On the auspicious occasion of Army Day today, HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), Founder of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, Ganga Action Parivar, invited the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Trivendra Singh Rawatji, MLA of Yamkeshwar, Smt Ritu Khanduriji and others to inaugurate Rishikesh’s first Waste to Wealth technology, the Kill Waste, Fuel Free Solid Waste Disposal System.
A pilot plan was installed at the ashram to inspire thousands of international and national pilgrims and devotees, as well as neighbouring regions, to implement similar solutions in their communities.
This Kill Waste Solid Waste system is different from conventional incinerators in that it requires minimum investment, utilizes no fuel, has no maintenance, requires no technicians and uses simple equipment. The machine effectively disposes of dry and wet waste without odour and harmful gas. The output of kill waste is neutral ash, which has been neutralized by activated charcoal, which can be used as fertilizer. The equipment is designed for the approval of various pollution control boards.
Solid Waste Mismanagement not only presents a tragic eye sore but also significantly contaminates the soil, water and air and is a major public health hazard to everyone living around the dumping site, who are often those living in the lowest socio-economic conditions. It also deters tourism, especially international tourists for whom sanitation and hygiene are key to a happy and healthy tourist experience.
The Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and Ganga Action Parivar, under Pujya Swamiji’s divine vision and green leadership, is working hard to bring this and many other green technologies to the forefront to help us effectively deal with the mounting pollution we face of our air, water and soil.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji said, “The real security and protection we need today is not only of our borders but also of our environment. Today, as we celebrate 70 years of the Indian Army let us all pledge to become warriors and soldiers from right where we are. Let us make Sena Diwas (Army Day) a Seva Diwas (Selfless Service Day) for Swachhta (Cleaniness) and our Paryavaran (Environment). Let us not just parade and rally to celebrate but let us also plant trees and rally for our environment to celebrate and commemorate the sacrifice that our soldiers make every day to give us a more secure today and tomorrow. While the secure our borders we can actively serve to secure within these borders.”
Honble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand said, “This technology can be a boon to make the mounting trash to be reduced to Eco-friendly ash, which can then be used as a fertilizer. I envision a pollution free and trash free Uttarakhand and we can work together to bring this to fruition. I know that it is doable and it can be done when we commit to working together as one. Parmarth Niketan has initiated this movement and with the blessings of Pujya Swamiji I am sure we can inspire everyone to work together to make great strides in this direction.”
Pujya Swamiji added, “Simply. by coming forward to contribute towards a Swachh Bharat, starting with our streets and communities, then by finding solutions and becoming solutions to the pollution and finally by implementing, maintaining and celebrating solutions, like we are today, we can all become soldiers of positive and much needed change. Today, we not only need to protect ourselves from the threats from outside our borders but the threats that each of our actions causes within these borders, which end up destroying the beautiful planet we call home and the sacred rivers and environment that once gave us life.”
There was a two-minute silence observed in honour of Army Day with Army personnel which was also joined by a large number of Chinese and Indian yoga participants who were participating in a week-long retreat at Parmarth Niketan.
There was also a beautiful tree plantation of two sacred Rudraksha saplings in the grove located on the Parmarth Niketan premises.
Also joining the inaugural programme were Nagar Panchayat Chairwomen, Smt Shkuntala Rajputji, Shri Lakshman Shastry, DRDO Scientist, Eco-Task Force Commanding Officer Dehradun Col HS Ranaji & many others. Yoga Enthusiasts from many countries, students from the Cambridge School from Dehradun, actors dressed as Puppets and Buddhists Nuns from Ladakh also took part in the ceremony.