Hindustan Zinc has joined hands with Government of India, to convert Dargah Ajmer Sharif into Swacch Iconic Places (SIP) under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Hindustan Zinc is executing the Project in 3 phases and in 1^st phase, the company will be investing Rs 5.68 crores that covers the establishment of two flower compost making machines, cleaning and basic repair of the Jhalra, re-flooring in select areas including laying underground pipes for electrical and water supply, procurement of machines for cleaning the floors, risk management system plan, providing drawings for conservation of Nizam Gate and undertaking conservation of Shahjahani Gate.

MoU in this regard was signed between Hindustan Zinc, Ajmer Dargah Committee and Municipal Corporation Ajmer to spend Rs. 5.68 Crores to clean & manage Dargah Ajmer Sharif in the presence of Hon’ble Minister of Minority Affairs, Government of India, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on 1 September, 2018 at Kayad Vishram Sthali, Ajmer. Amitabh Gupta – CFO, HZL; I.B. Peerzada – Nazim & CEO, Dargah Committee, Ajmer and Himanshu Gupta – Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Ajmer signed the MoU.

Hon’ble Minister, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said – “This campaign is close to our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s heart and we commend the efforts of Hindustan Zinc in getting associated with it to clean and develop a higher level of sanitation and facility management at Holy Shrine-Ajmer Dargah Sharif.”

Swachh Iconic Places – a special clean-up initiative focused on select 100 iconic heritage, spiritual and cultural places in the country under the Multi-stakeholder Approach Model. The campaign was initiated in year 2016 with 10 Swachh iconic places in India to be cleaned and developed at higher level of sanitation and facility management in collaboration with corporates and leading Public Sector Units (PSUs).

It is being coordinated by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in association with the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the concerned State Governments. At Ajmer, District Collector is the nodal agency of the project while Dargah committee and Khadims being the primary stakeholder with Municipal Corporation, Ajmer also as a stakeholder.

Amitabh Gupta – CFO, HZL, on the occasion said -“Hindustan Zinc has always been in fore-front for the greater good of the society. We are very proud to be part of this mission. Our vision is to preserve Dargah Ajmer Sharif sacred prominence in the state of Rajasthan and this is a cornerstone of our efforts.”

Speaking on the initiative Hindustan Zinc spokesperson Pavan Kaushik said, “Hindustan Zinc has already installed two flower compost machines in Kayad Vishram Sthali Ajmer costing 27 lacs where they will churn out about 25 kilograms of compost from about 100 kilograms of flowers offered at Dargah. In addition, Hindustan Zinc has also prepared vision document (master plan) for all over dargah development.”

The vision document has been prepared by the team of Abhimanyu Dalal Architects, Rasika Research & Design and MKG consultants.

Amin Pathan  – President, Dargah Committee said “We are here to give complete support to Municipal Corporation and Hindustan Zinc and we are ensured that this association will give complete face change to Ajmer Dargah Sharif.”

Vasudevnani – State Education Minister also appreciated about the commitment and association of the team involved in Ajmer Dargah Sharif project under Swachh Iconic Places.

Dargah Ajmer Sharif is amongst the most sacred and visited pilgrimage sites in India and the world. It was the abode of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti between 1192 and 1236 AD. Devotees from all over the world travel almost throughout the year and offer prayers, flowers and ‘chadar’. It is believed that a person’s gets all his or her wishes fulfilled, when prays with a pure heart at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Also present on the occasion were Arti Dogra – Distt. Collector, Ajmer, Neelima Khetan – Head CSR, HZL, Balwant Singh Rathore – Unit Head, Kayad Mine, government officials, management of Hindustan Zinc & Ajmer Dargah Committee.