Citizens now initiate Juhu beach clean-up after Versova success

Following the success of the citizens movement to clean up the Versova beach, which was lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat radio programme on May 28, Juhu residents have now stepped forward to clean up the filthy stretches of the Juhu beach along with the civic body.

On Sunday, citizens groups in Juhu began a community beach clean-up drive. This initiative will soon be replicated by residents staying at Mahim and Dadar to clean filthy areas in their neighbourhood beaches. 

Last week, members of two residents groups who are part of the BMC’s Beach Committee met Advocate Afroz Shah, who spearheaded the world’s largest community beach clean-up drive at Versova, to discuss the poor state of the beaches in other parts of the city and how to go clean them.

Just as in Versova, the citizens groups at Juhu will be continuing the cleaning initiative every weekend, and will be involving different stakeholders in the effort.

Over 50 volunteers between the age group of 20 to 63 years participated in the clean-up drive on Sunday morning at Juhu. 

Mehjabeen Barwani, member of Juhu Welfare Beach Committee, said, “Since Juhu beach comes under three different corporators, we have involved them too. Soon, school students, community members, and residents staying in the vicinity will also be involved.”

The residents also plan to meet local representatives over the issue.

Khar Danda resident, Vishwanath Dhandekar, said, “The civic authority only cleans up the main area of the beach leaving areas near Koliwada, Danda dirty. Therefore, we planned to start the initiative from these areas.”