Locals and civic workers join hands to clear waste from the mouth of the Poisar river
Sunday marked the first ever massive citizen-led clean-up drive, where in just five hours a massive 80,000 kg of garbage was cleared from the mouth of the Poisar river, which is proximate to Kranti Nagar in Kandivli (East).
The initiative, led by River March — a citizens group that has been working tirelessly to rejuvenate Mumbai's four main rivers — saw the participation of 50 volunteers and 30 labourers. The BMC sent JCB machines, excavators and dumpers to help the group.
"The drive started at around 7.30 am, and by the end of it, we managed to fill 10 dumpers with about 80,000 kg of garbage. The waste pile, which has been mounting for over a decade, was over six feet deep," said Tejas Shah, a volunteer.
People from Dombivli and Wadala also joined in to help clear the waste. "The volunteers dug deep, quite literally, to clear waste. Although the stench was unbearable, the group persevered," said Gopal Jhaveri, a River March member, adding that along with the BMC, they have decided that the drive will continue for the next five Sundays.
Meanwhile seeing the work being done even the locals gathered and began helping the volunteers. “Some locals came to us and told us that such intense clean up was never carried as even BMC contractors who were supposed to clean this before monsoon simply came, tossed garbage here and there and left. We however told them that it was now there responsibility to keep the place clear of any kind of garbage,” said Shah adding that they plan to take a mass awareness drive in the area involving the locals as well as even try to ensure that a garbage management system can be introduced.
Most of the volunteers claimed that on reaching home after the cleanup they had to clean themselves with large quantities of antiseptic and disinfectant liquids as most of them were covered with dust and garbage. “I wanted to take a nap but all I got was nightmare of garbage all around me that did not allow me to even sleep a wink,” shared Jhaveri lightheartedly. He added that all the garbage and plastic would have entered the sea during rain and hence through this drive they have ensured that not only river but even the ocean will be free of this garbage.
Members of Rivers March credited BMC for their support. “Its easily the biggest river clean up drive of Mumbai and it was possible as it was a partnership between citizens, BMC as well as even private builder and other contractors who agreed to help in an attempt to save poisar river that flows from Sanjay Gandhi National park and ends in Marve creek,” said Shah.
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