The two-day clean-up drive by over 500 people has resulted in collection of 584 tonnes of garbage at Versova beach. The initiative, started by Versova Residents Volunteers (VRV), is in its 43rd week and over 2 million kilograms of garbage has been removed from the beach so far. The two-day drive, which started on Saturday with the support of the civic body in the presence of Lewis Pugh, United Nation's Patron of the Oceans, saw massive community participation.
"The amount of enthusiasm that has been driven into it has made me extremely delighted. Both days have been brilliant and with time passing, the enthusiasm of people has only increased. I hope this initiative doesn't die out." The two-day event saw a few celebrities participating in the drive along with civic workers and local residents. "We have received overwhelming response from people and we are looking forward to more support from them," said Afrooz Shah, founder VRV.
Additional solicitor general of India Anil Singh, who participated in the clean-up work on Sunday, said: "We need complete co-operation from the authorities. This is a temporary solution. What we actually need is a permanent solution. Nevertheless, this is a brilliant initiative that spreads a message and awareness." BJP MLA Bharti Lavekar said: "BMC should now lend more support to this initiative and must make sure that this beach is totally clean for the public to use."
Tor A Dahlstrom, consul general of Norway who was a part of the initiative, said, "I will write a letter to all the other consul generals in Mumbai to lend their support to this initiative." Neera Ghosh, a film-maker who has been a key member of VRV, said, "We must clean it. One day, this beach will be clean." Ihaad Khan, a student who has been with the drive since its inception, said: "When we came to this beach at first, we didn't see any sand. Today, I am glad that we can at least walk on a part of this beach.
