Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has scientifically managed around 906 metric tonnes of waste generated during major religious pilgrimages across the state since 2024 and reached more than 1.4 crore devotees with environmental awareness messages.The initiative — Swachh Paryavaran Yatra — covers key religious events including the Ambaji padyatra, Uttarvahini Narmada Parikrama and Dwarka‘s Phooldol Mahotsav. The campaign aims to prevent plastic and other waste from accumulating along pilgrimage routes during large religious gatherings.According to an official statement, the GPCB collected and scientifically processed 38.8 metric tonnes of waste during the recently concluded Ambaji padyatra. For the exercise, the board established 300 service centres and deployed 13 vehicles along with 90 sanitation and field personnel for waste collection and management.To reduce the use of single-use plastic, the GPCB distributed 31,000 compostable bags, 1,500 cloth bags, and 4,850 steel bottles among pilgrims. A bottle-exchange programme also helped recover 38,466 plastic bottles during the yatra.
