New Delhi, 15 October (H.S.): The Delhi Government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Plastindia Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish more than 250 collection centres across various wards of the national capital in the first phase. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Mayor Pravesh Wahi.

The initiative aims to prevent the indiscriminate disposal or immersion of idols and religious offerings in public places, on roads and in water bodies.

Initiative to Promote Environmental Protection and Responsible Religious Practices

Speaking at the programme held at the Delhi Secretariat, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the initiative as a clean, green and environmentally sustainable measure. She said India’s religious traditions teach people to respect nature and all forms of life. Faith and devotion are integral to the country’s cultural heritage, but protecting the environment and fulfilling civic responsibilities are equally important.

She emphasised that ensuring the respectful collection of idols and religious offerings after rituals has become a necessity. The initiative will provide people with a practical alternative that allows them to honour their religious sentiments while behaving responsibly towards the environment.

The Chief Minister appealed to Delhi residents to deposit damaged idols and religious offerings only at designated collection centres. She said that taking such materials to the designated centres instead of leaving them on roads, in open spaces or in water bodies reflects citizens’ commitment to cleanliness and environmental protection.

Even a small, positive effort by each citizen can make a significant contribution towards making Delhi cleaner, more beautiful and more environmentally friendly, she added.

MCD to Oversee Daily Operations and Maintenance

Under the agreement, responsibility for the day-to-day operation and management of the idol collection centres will rest with the Municipal Corporation and the relevant government authorities following their formal handover.

The MCD will arrange for staff deployment, cleanliness, maintenance, collection of materials and their timely transportation to authorised locations. Regular monitoring will be undertaken to ensure that the centres remain clean, accessible and operational.

The Delhi Government will facilitate coordination among the relevant departments and agencies, while the Municipal Corporation will be responsible for implementation and monitoring at the local level.

Mayor Calls for Proper Management of Religious Offerings

Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi thanked Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for the initiative and described the establishment of idol collection centres as an important step towards the proper management of religious materials.

He said the centres would provide designated locations where residents could respectfully deposit damaged idols and religious offerings, helping prevent such materials from being scattered across public spaces.

He added that the Municipal Corporation would focus on the effective operation of the centres, cleanliness, maintenance and the timely collection and removal of deposited materials to ensure the successful implementation of the scheme.

The Mayor also appealed to residents to make use of the designated collection centres.

Plastindia Foundation Provides Collection Kiosks Free of Cost

Plastindia Foundation Chairman Alok Tibrewala said the foundation had developed, supplied and installed idol collection centres and kiosks at designated locations free of cost. He said the contribution reflected the foundation’s commitment to environmental protection and responsible waste management.

Tibrewala informed the gathering that 60 kiosks had already been installed.

He said that proper collection and timely removal of religious materials would help prevent littering, obstructions in public places and inappropriate disposal in water bodies. The initiative, he added, would improve urban cleanliness and promote environmental conservation.

Senior Civic Officials Attend the Programme

The programme was also attended by Satya Sharma, Chairperson of the MCD Standing Committee; Jai Bhagwan Yadav, Leader of the House in the MCD; Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar; and officials from the concerned departments.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar