Chilika Development Authority initiated a campaign to free the famous Kalijai island of plastic and garbage on Monday.
NSS volunteers of Balugaon college, members of three boat owners association, priests of the temple and other stakeholders were roped in by the CDA to embark upon the trash free drive.
Spread over an area of 45 acres, the divine island houses Goddess Kalijai, immortalised by late poet Godavarisha Mishra. The temple was built in 1717, by Jagannath Mansingh, king of Banpur.
The temple is visited by thousands of tourists every month and during winter months, the number goes past lakhs. The biggest gathering is on Makara Sankranti day, with few lakhs having a ‘darshan’ of the deity.
This pilgrimage tourism brings in its destructive consequences in form of huge plastics and non-degradable solid waste strewn all over the island and polluting the waters of Chilika lagoon.
Microplastic is already a cause of concern world over due to such indiscriminate dumping in marine ecosystem.
To keep the lagoon safe from further degradation and to enhance the visitors experience in the place of reigning deity of the lagoon, campaign to clean the island and change the behavior of the boatman and tourist was initiated.
Tons of garbage was collected and safely disposed off on Monday. Even tourists took interest in the drive.
The NSS unit of adjoining colleges and the boat owners association have been requested to adopt the island and take up the cleanliness drive every month.
The tourist will be prohibited from carrying plastic to this sacred place. The effort will be monitored regularly by the CDA to make the island plastic free zone.
The CDA also proposes to shift all shops adjoining the temple to a safer distance and create other public amenities for visitors.