Lesson learnt from Rs 200-cr Auli wedding: Chamoli finds unique way to fight plastic waste
The project will finally help the city find a smarter way to segregate and convert garbage.
By ET Online and Agencies | Updated:
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The Chamoli Municipality has decided to fight the challenge of plastic waste.
NEW DELHI: The high-profile wedding ceremonies of two sons of South Africa-based businessmen - Atul and Ajay Gupta - that took place in the ski resort of Auli has left the entire district of Chamoli in Uttrakhand a state of environmental vulnerability. The pristine hill station of Auli turned into a dumping ground with 32,100 kg of garbage after the Rs 200-crore wedding celebration concluded last month.
Ajay and Atul Gupta's sons weddings took place in Auli on a budget of Rs 200 crore. While the Guptas were fined Rs 1.5 lakh for littering, the local authorities were concerned about the excessive plastic waste left behind.
Within three days of clearing the ski resort, the Chamoli Municipality has now decided to fight the challenge of waste by turning old plastic into recyclable tiles.
Waste left behind following the large-scale Auli weddings hosted by the South Africa-based Gupta family. (Image: AFP) Currently, the municipality does not have a proper place to dispose the garbage. So, this project that is expected to cost Rs 20 lakh will help the city in segregating garbage, and converting plastic waste into a useful product.
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(Text: Shannon Tellis)
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(Text: Shannon Tellis)
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In a statement to a news agency, ANI, Anil Pant, Executive Officer of the Chamoli Municipality, said, "We have a project where we will be converting the plastic waste into tiles. Every day, 6-7 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in the region. Earlier, we use to compact it and send it outside, but now we will recycle it and utilise it. We will use these tiles on roads throughout the city".
Kritika Singhal (R), daughter of diamond merchant Suresh Singhal, and Suryakant (L), son of industrialist Ajay Gupta, got married in Auli on June 20. The wedding celebrations of Suryakant Gupta, son of Ajay, took place from June 18 to 20, while the nuptials of Atul's son, Shashank, were solemnised between June 20 and 22.
