Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development M Maheedhar Reddy on Sunday advised that the services of religious leaders could be utilised to create awareness about the protection of the environment.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event by ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability Group) and ARC (Alliance of Religions and Conservation), called Green Pilgrimage Network, at a private hotel, the minister said that since thousands of people gather at religious places every day, the messagea of environmental protection, sanitation or safe drinking water could be properly conveyed to masses through those places.
"Shrines like Mecca Masjid and the Tirumala temple can be utilised for the noble cause of protecting the environment," he said.
He advised local bodies to involve religious leaders in their initiatives of environment protection. He also appealed to people to cooperate with authorities in their initiatives for the environment. (INN)