21 Kas 2024 Perşembe
Temple waste management using vermi-biotechnology for environmental sustainability and green future
Abstract : Rapid industrialization has resulted in the generation of huge quantities of different type of waste including solid, liquid and gaseous. Despite regulatory guidelines and pollution control measures, such wastes are either burnt out in open fields, mismanaged, heaped, land-filled or discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment. This gross misconduct creates serious environmental and public health hazards. Waste coming out of temples is another big problem which is adding more pollution to the environment especially in the water bodies. In Himachal Pradesh which is famous as Dev Bhoomi, there are more than 10,000 temples, out of which 591 are in large/major category and 5 temples (Chamunda, Brajeshwari, Jwalamukhi, Chintpurni and Naina Devi) are in mega category on the basis of pilgrims visiting/waste generation. Huge quantity of temple waste is getting generated out of these temples which is finally thrown in nearby rivers/nullahs/water channels etc. The people in the state of Himachal Pradesh are pretty aware about ill effects of pollution but the aspect of temple waste is still untouched. In the current study, efforts were made to manage temple waste using vermi-biotechnology which is otherwise thrown in water channel. Earthworms survived and performed best in Temple Waste (40%): Dung (40%): Leaves (20%) combination, Trichoderma fungus was also used in the pre-decomposition of waste. The compost prepared was analysed for its nutritional value and found as good as that of dung manure. Herbal incense sticks were also prepared from waste florets that may become source of extra income to temple authorities as well as unemployed youth. It was concluded at the end of study that temple waste management is the need of hour and will support projects like Namami Gange and Swachh Bharat Mission to make our country clean, hygienic and prosperous.