The 2016-Simhastha Kumbha, to be held in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, will be an eco-friendly one as the state government has planned to ban the use of plastic and allow only bicycles and battery-operated vehicles for visitors in the mela area.
"We are working on this. Our effort is to make the fair completely free from plastic, which include carry bags, bottles and other items. Bicycles and battery-operated vehicles will be arranged as modes of transport. People will be encouraged to use them. Also, vehicles using bio-fuel will be used," Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration and Housing minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya said here today.
He said nearly 250 battery-operated vehicles and a large number of bicycles would be required for the fair because the area of movement would be large during the mela.
"We are trying to make available the vehicles in as many as possible. We also plan to install water-vending machines in the fair in order to minimise the use of bottled-water," he told PTI.
Companies providing bottled-water are being consulted so that they could be roped in for this work, he added.
Vijayvargiya said to avoid use of plastics, use of items made of paper and jute would be promoted during the fair, which are environment friendly.
Apart from it, he said, during the fair an international meeting with environment experts would be held, and religious and tourist places of the state would be promoted among the visitors and tourists.
"Care and protection of environment is the part of our history and culture, and we need to take it forward. The momentum has begun with the government at the Centre undertaking initiatives in this regard," he said.
The minister emphasised on making study of environmental studies compulsory "from top to bottom", so that students, be it in medical, engineering or any other stream, could be made aware about this "very much relevant issue".
Located on the bank of the Kshipra river, the ancient and pious city of Ujjain is one of the four sites along with Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar and Nasik that host the Kumbh fair which attract millions of Hindu pilgrims from around the world.
Millions of pilgrims are expected attend one of the most sacred and pious fair of the country, also known as 'Simhastha'.
