Single-use plastic items banned, ID cards must for vendors at Rath Mela this year
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Ranchi: Deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri on Friday asked district officials to ensure a complete ban on the use of single use plastic items and thermocol products during the Jagannathpur Rath Mela in Dhurwa, scheduled to begin on June 27.
Chief minister Hemant Soren, governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and other VIPs are expected to attend.
Notably, manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastics is banned in Jharkhand since 2017.
Vendors will be allowed to use only biodegradable materials like leaf plates, bamboo containers, and earthen utensils. Enforcement teams will conduct routine checks and can impose fines or shut stalls for violations.
To strengthen safety, watch towers and loudspeakers will be installed at five main entry points.
CCTV cameras will be placed throughout the mela area and along the Rath Yatra route. Local police stations have been instructed to ensure surveillance and rapid response, while a dedicated police control room will remain functional throughout the event.
Bio-toilets will be placed at various points, and deep borewells will be dug to ensure clean drinking water. Temporary electric and generator connections will power stalls and lighting arrangements Over 1,800 stalls and 25 amusement rides will be a part of the week-long fair, organisers said.
Sale and consumption of meat at the fair will be banned. Stall operators must procure eco-friendly containers and comply with waste management guidelines. Each stall and volunteer will be issued official identity cards by the mela committee. All amusement ride operators need to furnish valid safety certificates.
"No ride will be permitted without safety clearance. Medical teams will be on standby with ambulances on the fair premises. A fire tender will remain stationed at the venue am," Bhajantri said.
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