230-kg garbage removed from Kharghar waterfall, clean-up dedicated to soldiers
MUMBAI : Around 45 volunteers removed 230kg of trash, including 150kg of plastic left by picnickers at a waterfall at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.
The group from non-government organisation Environment Life, in their 12th waterfall clean-up drive in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), collected 12 bags of plastic plates, spoons, bottles, food wrappers and plastic carry bags.
“As opposed to previous clean-ups where alcohol bottles would make up the maximum quantity of trash, this time it was mostly plastic as this waterfall is close to residential areas that have police presence. Mostly families visit for picnics,” said Dharmesh Barai, head coordinator, Environment Life.
This year, the group has also collected trash from waterfalls in Anandwadi (540kg), Jummpatti (120kg), Tapalwadi (120kg), Khopoli – Zenith (220kg), Vasai – Chinchoti (340kg), Kondeshwar (1,000kg), Pandavkada (280kg), Ambewadi (cross) (120kg) and Palsdari (600kg).
The Kharghar waterfall clean-up was done to mark Independence Day.
“We dedicate this clean-up to martyred Indian soldier Major Kaustubh Rane and all other soldiers fighting at our borders to keep us safe. If they can do so much for us, it is only a minuscule task to keep our surroundings clean,” said Barai.
“Through this drive, we also attempted to spread awareness among tourists to ask large private companies to develop a buyback scheme to recover used plastic such as wrappers and bottles.”
HT had reported in June that VK Gautam, principal secretary, state tourism and culture department, had asked for pictures and details of all the waterfall clean-ups in MMR.