Jharsuguda: A Plastic-Free Picnic Spot Awareness Programme was organised by the Belpahar Forest Range at the historic tourist site Vikramkhol under the Jharsuguda Forest Division on Thursday to promote the elimination of single-use plastic and encourage eco-friendly tourism.
The programme was conducted under the chairmanship of Belpahar Range Officer Pradeep Kumar Nayak. Regional Director of the Jharsuguda Pollution Control Board, Hiranya Nayak, attended as the chief guest, while Jharsuguda Wildlife Warden Prahlad Nayak, Belpahar Junior College Principal Surendra Bhoi, Deputy Environmental Scientist Anusuya Ekka, and Environment Development Committee members Bijay Behera, Benudhar Choudhury and Gobinda Sakunia were present as guests of honour.
Several other dignitaries, including Eco Club master trainer Hamid Kumar Mahapatra, MCL Lakhanpur Area Environment Officer Chilambaram A, Brajarajnagar Range Officer Rishna Jamudalia, Ait Jiban Foundation President Mansi Panda, along with Hemalata Meher, poet Madhabi Patel, Jyotirmoi Behera and Jyosanmayi Nayak, attended the programme. Forester Saroj Khamari conducted the event.
Winners of the painting competition organised by the Forest Department—Arati Kishan, Satyam Bhainsal, Sekhar Dansana, Ananya Kishan, Srishti Sahu and Krishna Priyadarshini Nayak—were felicitated on the occasion.
Women from local self-help groups, school and college students, members of forest protection and environment development committees, and villagers actively participated in the awareness drive. Forest officials, guards and FMU team members extended full cooperation to make the programme successful.
