Cops join campaign to clean Versova beach

Just a day ahead of World Environment Day, Mumbai police joined United Nations Environment Programme or UNEP India’s campaign for a clean Versova beach and supported Bombay High Court lawyer Afroz Shah, who is leading the campaign to clean the beach.

“Versova beach was considered one of the dirtiest beaches in Mumbai but today we all thank Afroz Shah who has spearheaded a campaign to clean it. Our Versova police team supported Shah and planted many coconut trees across the beach,” said Kiran Kale, senior inspector of Versova police station.

United Nations India tweeted on Sunday and urged green crusaders of Mumbai city to volunteer in the cleanliness drive: “Green crusaders of #Mumbai, head to Versova beach for @UNEP India's beach clean up! Do your bit for a cleaner #India!”

At least 2,000 people from all walks of life including Bollywood celebrities, politicians, college students volunteered in the cleanliness drive and removed around two lakh kg waste materials from Versova sea beach.

“Besides Mumbai police, all the stakeholders including Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Maharashtra maritime board, and others helped us in the clean-up drive. Total 1,60,000 kg garbage was removed from Versova sea beach,” said Shah, who has been instrumental in spearheading citizens’ movement to clean up the beach.

He celebrated both World Environment Day of June 5 and World Ocean Day of June 8 on Sunday.

The entire team of UNEP India too volunteered in the cleanliness drive.

The Executive Director of UNEP, Erik Solheim, tweeted: “India is rising to the challenge of making a greener world!”

As a part of green Mumbai drive on Sunday, total 500 coconut trees across the Versova sea beach stretch were planted. Shah has made India proud by winning the highest environmental honour award ‘Champions of the Earth’ by the United Nations last year. Of late, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has praised Shah for his selfless effort to clean the Versova beach.