Gangasagar Mela Aftermath: 1200 Tons of Waste, 40% Plastic; New Magh Mela Plans

• The Gangasagar Mela concluded with 1200 metric tons of waste collected, a significant increase from last year's 1,111 tons.
• Approximately 40% of the collected waste consists of plastic materials, including bottles, polythene, and packets.
• Despite a pre-Mela campaign and a ban on plastic for local shopkeepers, pilgrims' indiscriminate disposal led to widespread plastic pollution.
• The collected waste has been sent to the Sagar Block's plastic and solid waste disposal unit for conversion into fertilizer and other uses.
• New plans are being developed for the upcoming Magh Mela, incorporating lessons learned from the extensive plastic waste issue at Gangasagar.

Why It Matters: Gangasagar Mela generated 1200 tons of waste, 40% plastic, prompting new eco-friendly plans for Magh Mela.