In an initiative to mitigate the adverse impact of plastic wastes on the environment, a panchayat in Odisha’s Nuapada district has introduced the Bartan Bank – a repository of utensils available for community use across the villages within its jurisdiction.
Focusing on the pressing issue of plastic pollution, Saroj Devi Agarwal, the sarpanch of Bhaleswar panchayat in Nuapada, emphasised the adverse effects of non-degradable plastics on the environment, particularly during community gatherings.
She articulated that social events significantly contribute to the proliferation of plastic waste; as a solution she proposed the development of Bartan Banks in order to minimise plastic use in community gatherings.
