Mysore/Mysuru:  Cleanliness should be given utmost importance for creating a healthy environment and for well-being of people, said writer Bannur K. Raju, here yesterday.

Speaking at the cleanliness drive of Chamundi Hill steps organised by Sir M. Visvesvaraya Plumbing and Underground Drainage and other Construction Workers’ Welfare Association at the foothills on the occasion of Ashada Month and Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Jayanti celebrations, he said that if one had to live a healthy life it was important for the environment, food, water, air and land to be clean.

“There is a need to create awareness among people to keep our surroundings clean. Nalwadi, who was called ‘Rajarshi’ by Gandhiji, gave importance to cleanliness, which not only means keeping our surroundings clean but to prevent water, air, soil and sound pollution,” he said.

Earlier, Padma Shri Dr. Khader Valli Dudekula offered floral tributes to the portrait of Nalwadi to mark the inauguration of the cleanliness drive. Speaking on the occasion, he said it was important to prevent the use of plastic which was harmful to the environment.

“There is no other material which is more dangerous than plastic and everyone should come together in creating a plastic-free environment,” he added.

Welfare Association President S. Mahesh presided. Dr. Khader Valli and Bannur Raju were felicitated on the occasion. Association Vice-President M.S. Suresh Kumar, General Secretary M. Ravikumar, Treasurer M. Prakash, Directors Chandregowda, Rudraswamy, Santosh Kumar Behera, Mohammed Zakir Hussain, Shivaraj, Yogesh Hebbal and senior members Basavaraju, Siddaraju, Kalegowda, Munirathna, Mahadevu, Krishna and others were present.