MANALI: After claiming to have become first town in the country to impose complete ban on plastic in 1995, Manali is doing all possible to become first “honk free” town of country.The administration here believes that a series of awareness campaigns , rallies and education programmes will help in making the town noise free. After conducting a cycle rally on April 10 with message of no honking in town, the bikers of the town on Tuesday took out rally with the same message. In the next step the senior citizens and students will take out rally in the town to encourage people not to honk. No honking campaign will continue throughout the month.Manali sub-divisional magistrate Raman Gharsangi said officials from transport department will have meetings with taxi, auto and other transport unions in Manali and will educate them about traffic rules and encourage them not to honk in the town. “Mother Nature has gifted immense beauty to Manali but sound pollution is a new problem we are facing with. We shall spread awareness among tourists and local residents. I have called a meeting of other departments and stakeholders on April 20 to frame further strategy,” he said.Meanwhile, Kullu administration is starting road safety week from April 23 and 30 and the no honking campaign will continue with it in Manali. The district administration will organize many programmes with a different theme every day. Before this, a special campaign has been run in the district to check all school buses from April 16 to 22.Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus said the road safety week will start with awareness rallies on April 23. “On April 24, painting and slogan writing competitions on traffic rules will be held in schools and medical check-up camps for drivers will be run on April 25. Special awareness camps on traffic rules will be run in schools and colleges on April 26. The general public will be educated regarding traffic rules on April 27, the day of April 28 will be dedicated for the pedestrians and police will conduct vehicle checks on April 29. The campaign will finish on April 30 with prize distribution ceremony,” he said.

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