Army organizes cleanliness drive in Karponang

GANGTOK, 04 May: A cleanliness drive was launched around Karponang jointly by the Black Cat Sappers and civilians residing in the village on JN Marg today. Karponang is located at Milestone 13 on the JNM on the way to Nathula.

An official press release informs that lack of proper waste disposal arrangements and littering by tourists had led to considerable garbage accumulating in the area which now poses ecological threat to the area.

Garbage dumps in such places have often attracted bears and other animals, therefore, the Black Cat Division in keeping with the state motto of ‘Clean Sikkim Green Sikkim’ and its own Eco Awareness Campaign took the initiative and organized this cleanliness drive in Karponang, the release explains.

The drive, aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of the Army and the civil population, began with an ecological awareness lecture for the children of the government schools and the locals in Karponang and concluded with the cleanliness drive today jointly by the Army and locals.

The Army had also taken the initiative to place signages sensitizing people to drive slowly in the area as well as emphasizing the importance of disposing waste responsibly. The event was well received and proved to be an educational experience for both the civil population and the Army, the release adds.