Chitrakoot temples launch clean drive against gutkha as district administration bans tobacco sales near holy sites

The district administration in Chitrakoot has launched a cleanliness and anti-tobacco campaign starting from Madha, Somnath, and Bharat temples. Parking and shop fees will fund dedicated sanitation workers to keep holy sites spotless.

In a major administrative push to make the revered religious sites, maths, and temples of Chitrakoot completely clean and free from gutkha and tobacco, local authorities have rolled out a comprehensive initiative. The district administration is fully prepared to enforce a complete ban on the sale of gutkha and tobacco products in the immediate vicinity of all prominent temples. District Magistrate Pulkit Garg has issued strict directives to the concerned officials to overhaul and elevate sanitation standards across temple premises and surrounding areas. To sustain this cleanliness drive financially, a designated fee will be collected from shops operating near the temples and from vehicle parking zones, and the revenue generated will be directly utilized to deploy sanitation workers.

This decisive action was triggered by persistent complaints regarding litter and filth accumulating on the steps and inside the premises of the Madha temple. Maintaining proper hygiene in the area had become a persistent challenge due to the massive influx of devotees visiting the shrine. In response to this issue, the forest department has been instructed to collect a fixed fee from nearby vendors and individuals parking their vehicles around the temple. Additionally, explicit directions have been issued to manage and prohibit gutkha consumption near the shrine. The nominal fees gathered from parking lots and commercial stalls will fund the salaries of cleaning staff, ensuring that the surroundings remain immaculate at all times.

Elaborating on the initiative, District Magistrate Pulkit Garg shared that devotees frequently consume gutkha during visits and carelessly discard the empty packets around the sacred grounds. This habit not only ruins the aesthetic and spiritual beauty of these hallowed tourist destinations but also creates unhygienic conditions. Viewing this matter with utmost seriousness, the administration is rolling out a phased campaign starting with the Madha temple, Somnath temple, and Bharat temple. Not a single shop selling gutkha or tobacco will be permitted to operate in the immediate vicinity of these temples, and strict legal action will be initiated against violators if any such shops are discovered during inspections.

Under the broader scope of this campaign, shopkeepers and individuals organizing community feasts near the Somnath temple will also contribute a nominal fee to bolster cleanliness operations. Dedicated sanitation employees will be stationed around the temple grounds to perform regular sweeping and cleaning duties along all pathways, ensuring that visiting pilgrims experience a pristine and pleasant environment. Officials noted that this drive will not remain confined to just a few locations but will gradually encompass all major maths, temples, and religious sites across Chitrakoot. Effective restrictions will be placed on the retail of tobacco items near sacred spots to preserve the long-term purity and cleanliness of Chitrakoot.

What this means for you
• Across India: Banning tobacco and gutkha sales around sacred destinations sets a positive precedent for preserving hygiene and sanctity in pilgrimage centers nationwide.
• In Chitrakoot: Deploying sanitation workers funded by local shop and parking fees near Madha, Somnath, and Bharat temples will ensure a clean, litter-free environment for visiting devotees.

Questions & Answers

1. Which temples in Chitrakoot are marking the initial phase of the anti-gutkha campaign?
The cleanliness campaign is initially starting from the Madha temple, Somnath temple, and Bharat temple.

2. How will the deployment of sanitation workers near the temples be funded?
Sanitation workers will be funded through nominal fees collected from local shops and vehicle parking zones operating near the temples.

3. Who is overseeing this cleanliness and anti-tobacco drive in Chitrakoot?
The drive is being spearheaded by the district administration under the directives of District Magistrate Pulkit Garg.

4. What action will the administration take against shops found selling gutkha near the temples?
Strict punitive action will be taken against individuals operating gutkha and tobacco shops near the temple zones during inspections.

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