After Padma Shri recipient Sudha Murthy, who had just visited the northeastern state, expressed dismay at the filthy conditions of the Neermahal grounds, Manik Saha made the plea
Manik Saha, the chief minister of Tripura, encouraged the locals on Tuesday to keep Neermahal, the only lake palace in eastern India, free of plastic and spotless in order to draw tourists. The CM made the request after Padma Shri recipient Sudha Murthy, who was just visiting the northeastern state, expressed shock at the unsanitary conditions of the Neermahal grounds.
"The government has given a new facelift to Neermahal by spending Rs 50 crore on the eve of the G-20 summit in Agartala. This is an asset for the state. Tourists, even from outside the state visit the lake palace to see its beauty. Sudha Murthy ji had also paid a visit to the palace", he said before the inauguration of the state's biggest Rath Yatra at Melaghar in Sepahijala district.
The chief minister urged citizens to take action to save the lake and palace and keep it free of plastic after expressing his concern over Neermahal's situation as the state's sole Ramsar site.
"The tourists will obviously be disheartened if they see dirty bottles, plastic wrappers and plastic bags thrown around the lake palace. The local people must come forward to protect the princely-era structure and its beauty. The government will soon start a statewide drive against plastic use", he said.
According to Saha, the current administration is attempting to advance religious and cultural practices in the northeastern area.
"We can't think of life without God and Goddess… We believe God stays only in the temple but during the rath yatra, the gods and goddesses come down on the streets from the temple and mix up with the devotees. The ISKCON is celebrating rath yatra all over the globe, which increases bonding among the people", he said.