Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Such is the resolve of village headman Farooq Ahmed Ganai, who has only imagined to save the environment. In a noble initiative, Ghani has decided to exchange polythene with gold coins to prevent domestic plastic waste from being dumped in fields and water bodies.
“If we don’t pay attention to cleanliness, in the next 10 years you will not get any clean source of water from the fertile ground,” said Ganai, sarpanch of Sadiwara-e village in Hiller area. He said that while a lot of attention is being paid to cleanliness by the government and the administration, the citizens will also have to contribute.
Ganai, who is also a lawyer, said, “Polythene continues to be a matter of concern as it does not decompose even in landfills. That’s when I thought of the idea – bring polythene, take gold.” He said, ‘Now we give one gold coin to those who bring 20 quintals of polythene.’
Ganai, who is also a lawyer, started last year by persuading villagers to build garbage pits in their homes to ensure that solid waste does not go outside.
“Those who bring less than 20 quintals of polythene will also be given a suitable reward, perhaps a silver coin,” he said. The youth of the area have also formed a club which helps in implementing innovative ideas for the betterment of the society.
with PTI inputs