SPEAK UP: Setting a precedent for beach clean-up drives

The world's largest community beach clean-up drive at Versova beach has met with considerable success in restoring the beach to its natural beauty, even eliciting praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat radio programme last week. However, other beaches in the city need urgent attention.

The thought of litter and filth often discourages citizens from spending time with their families at these beaches, which would have served as great community spaces to be enjoyed by Mumbaikars.

DNA spoke to a cross section of Mumbaikars on their views about how clean and accessible they felt the city's beaches were for them, and whether they felt the community initiatives or greater action from authorities concerned was the way forward in ensuring cleaner beaches across the city.

RESIDENTS SPEAK

Beaches in the city are not clean. Waste thrown into the sea throughout the year washes up on the beach during monsoon. Cleanliness of the beach is largely dependent on the will of the administration to implement rules and laws. Just because the prime minister talks of Swachh Bharat does not mean India will become clean. There is open defecation at both ends of Juhu beach every morning. Public participation is necessary but unless authorities supervise the work they give to contractors, it will not work.
Gulshan Gandhi, Juhu resident

We always blame the authorities for each and every issue while we skip out on our own responsibilities. When it comes to cleanliness of beaches, we should blame ourselves. We dump leftover food and plastic when we visit beaches without thinking much of it. Gradually, the place starts looking dirty and then we expect clean beaches. If we do not want to clean the beaches, we should at least refrain from littering.
Nilesh Patil, Mulund resident

Afroz Shah and his team in Versova cleaned up the dirtiest beach in the city instead of just complaining. Dadar and Juhu beaches also needs such community driven clean up campaigns. They see more visitors than the Versova beach so the challenges will be different. The governemnt, NGOs and citizens should work together to ensure that the last few remaining open spaces in the city are clean and accessible to hordes of Mumbaikars who live, work and travel in claustrophobic conditions. They deserve a good sunset too.
Swaraj Shetty, Sion resident.

I hope more of the city's beaches are cleaned like it was done at the Versova beach. Currently, there is a lot of untreated waste flowing into the waters. It doesn't just look bad but makes me avoid spending time at the beaches too. It is crucial that local authorities provide support and take adequate preventive measures which will dissuade people from littering the beaches. I hope the Versova drive motivates people to take up such drives across the city and soon we may have more clean beaches.
Kritika A Nahate, law student

Rather than blaming the authorities, citizens should make a difference by participating in social initiatives to clean up beaches. Juhu residents will soon be meeting with civic authorities, MLAs and MPs to discuss further plans to solve the problem of poor condition of Juhu beach. Citizens groups in Juhu cleaned up few areas of Juhu beach on Sunday morning as part of social responsibility activity. We are approaching other resident groups in Dadar and Mahim to join the initiative by cleaning beaches in their surrounding.
Mehjabeen Barwani, Juhu resident

The beaches in Mumbai are not tidy because people litter on the beach. Dustbins should be provided for wet and dry waste on beaches as it will help keep beaches clean. The clean up drive taken up at Versova beach is a great initiative. There will be a similar drive that will be taken up at Dadar Chowpatty. If such activities continue, our city beaches will be beautiful.
Shridhar Mediga, Ghatkopar resident

EXPERT SPEAK

While I applaud the community work being done at Versova beach, the question that remains is will the beaches get cleaned only when citizens will get involved? Isn't it the responsibility of the authorities? Look at the conditions of all the other beaches in and around Mumbai including that in Alibaug and Dahanu areas. They are facing threat from all quarters be it tonnes of garbage piling up, pollution or rampant sand mining that is killing the beaches. If government agencies continue to keep looking the other way, the condition of beaches will continue to deteriorate.
Sumaira Abdulali, Convenor, Awaaz Foundation

Citizens will have to stand up for their beaches. After the success of the Versova beach clean up drive, a lot of people from different areas including Mahim, Bandra and other places have approached us seeking support to clean up dirty beaches in their area. We have assured them our full support and will also guide them on how we go about planning a beach clean up week after week. However, it is the locals from their area and residents who will have to clean the beach along with the support of BMC to ensure that the project is sustainable for a long term.
Afroz Shah, Founder Versova residents Volunteers