Environmental enthusiasts aggrieved due to the ensuing sea pollution caused by the Ganpati visarjan can now breathe a sigh of relief.
Environmental enthusiasts aggrieved due to the ensuing sea pollution caused by the Ganpati visarjan can now breathe a sigh of relief. That’s because 1,000 school students will now help in cleaning Mumbai’s coastline along with BMC workers after the two main visarjan days.
To increase awareness among the masses to follow an eco-friendly Ganeshotsav, the Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA) has brought together students from ten schools to work closely with the municipal corporation in beach-cleaning activities on September 9 and 15, the days after the Gauri visarjan and the Ganesh visarjan respectively.
Students and teachers will participate in the drive to clean Powai lake, Juhu beach, Versova beach and Chowpatty. Schools such as Hiranandani Foundation and Gopal Sharma Memorial School, Powai, Beacon High School, Khar, Green Lawns School, Breach Candy, Jankidevi Public School, Andheri and Navy Children School, Colaba will participate on the first day.
The students participating in the drive are required to collect the left-over debris such as plastic bags, flowers, decorations and half immersed idols washed out by the sea. “My daughter participated in the drive last year and she was disturbed at the sight of the beach cluttered with debris. She insisted vehemently that we celebrate this year’s festival in an eco-friendly manner,” said Sunita Memon, whose daughter is in class VII at Gopal Sharma Memorial, Powai.
“While the drive to have green Ganpati idols is gaining momentum, more than 95 per cent of the idols immersed in the sea still contain toxic chemicals. Involving school children in the beach-cleaning drive will teach them to be active citizens and care for their environment,” said Vinodini Lulla, chief co-ordinator of CMCA.
The beach-cleaning drive is currently being run in Mumbai in partnership with Sophia College Ex-Students’ Association. “This is the first time I am participating in the drive. I have only read about the destruction toxic waste can cause, but never had the chance to see for myself,” said Shweta Sinha, a student of Green Lawns school, Breach Candy.
r_priya@dnaindia.net
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