Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS/HB)

Udupi, Oct 2: "Mahatma Gandhi, who had the thinking that clean environment promotes mental, physical and spiritual development, gave priority to cleanliness. Accordingly, in order to keep the district of Udupi clean, everyone has to make the resolution of 'Swacch Udupi - Plastic Mukta Udupi' and celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," said MLA Raghupati Bhat.

Bhat spoke after inaugurating the 150th birthday celebration of Mahatma Gandhi that was jointly organized by the district administration, zilla panchayat, city municipality, department of information and public relations and Kannada and cultural department at the Ajjarakadu Bhujanga Park in the city on Wednesday, October 2.

Bhat further said, "Swacch Bharat movement was started five years ago as part of birthday celebration of Mahatma Gandhi. As per the dream of Gandhiji of where there is cleanliness there will be health, citizens have to be alert about cleanliness. Plastic has to be discarded and cloth bags needs to be used, there by cooperating to make Udupi a plastic free district."

Papu Bapu, a small handbook that is published by the information and public relations department was released on the occasion by Raghupati Bhat.

Zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu, taluk panchayat president Neeta Gururaj Poojary, members of city municipality Rashmi Chittaranjan, Balakrishna Shetty, Manasi Pai, zilla panchayat CEO Preeti Gehlot, ASP Kumarachandra, city municipality commissioner Anand Kallolikar, assistant director of Kannada and cultural department Kumar Bekkeri and Shivakumar of information and public relations department were present on the occasion.

Prakash Suvarna Katapady welcomed the gathering and compered the programme. Member of city municipality Dhananjay rendered the vote of thanks.