BHUBANESWAR: A cleanliness drive was conducted at Bindu Sagar Lake under the guidance of Secretary, Red Cross Odisha, Kalpana Dash here recently.
The drive was aimed at cleaning the historical site which was littered by garbage on the occasion of Boita Bandana Friday. On the full moon day of the holy month of Kartik, the festival which marks sailing of small paper and thermocol boats is celebrated. Thousands of devotees from the city floated toy boats decorated with small lamps, betel leaves, milk, fruits, coins, mud toys and flowers among others at the artificial tank.
On a brief interaction with Orissa Post, Dash said, “Observing age-old traditions is certainly welcome. However, numerous unattended paper boats hamper the sustainability of the lake and the aquatic life it houses. This prompted volunteers of Redcross and other organisations to engage in a cleanliness drive in this historical site. Hopefully, people will understand the value of a clean Bindu Sagar soon.”
Volunteer Rajesh Tripathy said, “Devotees of the city firmly believe that when a person takes a dip in this lake, all his sins and diseases are washed away by the holy water. However, the filth that is accumulated in the tank would surely repeal anyone who wishes to bath at this holy site. Therefore, volunteers from Red Cross and other organisation conducted a swachhta drive to prevent accumulation of wate in the tank.”
Bholinath Sahu, a betel shop owner, said, “The cleanliness drive by Red Cross is a wonderful initiative. Participation of the common people in the cleanliness would augment the process. We should join hands with these volunteers to ensure the cleanliness of one of the holiest sites in the city. People should stop washing their dirty laundry here. Cleanliness of the lake should be maintained all the year round by the help of the local corporator and BMC.”
Onlookers praised the efforts of these volunteers by stating that they were involved in the cleanliness drive even though it did not provide any monetary incentive.