Patiala News:Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Government Join PPCB’s Mission Clean Patiala for Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies; 1.64 Tonnes of Waste Cleared
-*Street vendors were advised to keep area clean to avoid any punitive actions*
Reinforcing the message that clean air begins with clean surroundings, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation, Patiala, organised a cleanliness drive at Nabha Road under Mission Clean Patiala, marking the spirit of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
The drive witnessed participation from PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta, the local MLA Ajit Pal Singh Kohli, Mayor Kundan Gogia, Additional Commissioner Simarpreet Kaur, and personnel from the Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Public Works Department (PWD) and Water Supply and Sanitation Department. Students from Blossoms Senior Secondary School and Government ITI College, Patiala also enthusiastically joined the initiative, adding a strong message of youth participation in environmental protection. The collaborative efforts lead to the lifting of 1,640 kg of waste from the Nabha Road stretch. The street vendors across the road stretch were also sensitised to judiciously dispose their waste and keep their surroundings clean to avoid any punitive actions.
The initiative also brought together two complementary public campaigns Mission Clean Patiala, being led by the PPCB, and the State Government’s Mission Clean Punjab demonstrating how coordinated efforts by government departments, local bodies, institutions and citizens can amplify environmental action on the ground.
The PPCB has been promoting Mission Clean Patiala as a sustained community movement rather than a one-time cleanliness exercise. The campaign encourages educational institutions, government departments, organisations and citizens to take ownership of public spaces and contribute regularly towards cleaner surroundings.
On the occasion, PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta said “Waste left lying in the open, apart from becoming a cleanliness concern, is a cause for open burning, releasing fine particulate matter, black carbon and other harmful pollutants into the air. Every kilogram of waste that we collect, segregate and send for proper processing is a step towards ensuring that it is not left to accumulate or be burnt on our streets.”
She further emphasised the importance of bringing young people into environmental action, adding that GenZ and GenAlpha participating in such initiatives can become ambassadors of responsible environmental behaviour in their homes, institutions and communities .
The PPCB expressed appreciation to all participating departments, the Municipal Corporation, public representatives, educational institutions, students and personnel who joined the drive. The Board will continue to facilitate such collaborative initiatives under Mission Clean Patiala, complementing the State Government’s Mission Clean Punjab, with the objective of building sustained community participation in environmental protection.