Bihar environment dept officials, staff embrace 'green' means to reach at work place

PATNA: As part of their resolution to use environment friendly means of transportation once a week, officials and staff of the environment, forest and climate change department reached their offices across the state using eco-friendly vehicles on Friday. While secretary of the department, Bandana Preyashi, reached the office in an electric car, other employees either came in electric vehicles like e-rickshaws, bicycles or simply walked.

“The response from officials and staff to this initiative has been overwhelming, both in the headquarters and field offices. We had planned route maps in such a manner that each employee had a sustainable alternative to come to the office. We used all possible non- polluting means to reach the office, such as walking, cycling, e-rickshaws, public transport, cycle rickshaws and electric vehicles. It is the department’s small effort towards practicing what we advocate to others,” Preyashi told TOI.

In a letter to all the officials concerned on July 25, Preyashi had urged them to inform their colleagues and subordinates to come to their office one day in a week, preferably Friday, by adapting non-polluting means of transport.

Emission from vehicles has been found to be one of the major causes of air pollution in the state, apart from particulate matter. The state government is taking several measures to curb air pollution, including a proposed ban on the entry of all diesel-buses in Patna municipal area, Danapur, Khagaul and Phulwarisharif from October 1.

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