“Jallosh-Clean Coasts” campaigners collect 16,000 kg waste from waterfronts and waterbodies

MUMBAI: Project Mumbai, a Mumbai based NGO works to maintain the city management, has taken an initiative ‘Jalosh-Clean Coasts’ to clean the trash from Mumbai waterfront areas and waterbodies. The three-day initiative, began from June 1 followed by June 2 (Saturday and Sunday) and culminating with the World Environment Day on June 5. The initiative is unique in its own way as, for the first time, it not only aims at cleaning the beaches, but also, simultaneously draws citizen volunteers to all the four river- bodies in Mumbai.

Several like-minded and award-winning groups, including #MahimBeachCleanUp, Beach Warriors, Beach Please, River March, WWF, Mangrove Foundation, Girgaum Chowpatty Lifeguard Association, Earth Day Network, Via Green, Jay Foundation, United Way of Mumbai, and several corporates participated for the clean-up campaign.

Around 5,000 volunteers including environment groups, corporates, state agencies, and students participated in the campaign and cleaned about 16,000 Kg of waste from nine beach fronts, two rivers and two mangrove forests. Volunteers have achieved their aim to clean the major areas and rivers of Mumbai such as Mumbai’s Girgaon Chowpatty, over 7,000 kg of waste has been cleaned from the beach stretch along Worli, Dadar, Mahim, Bandra, Versova, Juhu and Madh Poisor and 8,000 kg of waste from  Mithi, Oshiwara and Dahisar rivers.

Shishir Joshi, chief executive officer and co-founder, Project Mumbai said, “The enthusiasm among citizens to change the way we view our coastline and rivers is heart-warming.” ‘Jallosh-Clean Coasts’ is just the beginning and part of Project Mumbai’s Citizens for Sustainability initiative under the tag line, ‘Mumbai ke liye, Kuch bhi Karega’, he added.

All volunteers were divided into teams and were instructed by their team leaders to clean their representative place using excavation machines and waste removal equipment.

Afroz Shah, an advocate and beach clean-up crusader said, “The initiative has been instrumental in bringing together a large number of citizens together. The sooner more citizens get together to manage their own garbage, the better it is.”

On the World Environment Day, the initiative will complete its third day and witness its highest participation to make the city clean and plastic free. Clean-up drives will be held from 7 am to 8 am at Cuffe Parade, Girgaum Chowpatty, Dadar, Mahim, Bandra, Juhu, Versova; 8 am to 11 am at Mithi River-Filter Pada end; and 7 am to 10 am at Bandra mangroves.