Sonada, 05th July:Ā Rajahata BastiĀ has been declared as the first Zero Waste Village in the Darjeeling hills. Although not officially announced, theĀ village earned the title after the success of a Zero Waste movement, within just a span of two-months, launched by NGO TAD.Ā

RajahataĀ was inaugurated as a garbage-free village by Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha President Anit Thapa. Likewise, the gate was inaugurated by Sinchel Wildlife Sonada Beat Officer Rachna Pradhan and Upper Sonada Gram Panchayat employee Raju Bishwakarma during the first phase of the program.