Pune: Since people from the areas of Alandi Devachi do not have the mechanism to dispose of waste, they burn it, though that adds to the air pollution in the area. Therefore, several NGOs of the city carried out a cleanliness drive at four spots at Alandi on Sunday, with an aim to collect the waste and dispose of it without causing environmental damage.
As a part of World Environment Day’s 15-day programme, several NGOs of the city joined hands and carried out cleanliness drives at Siddhabet, Indrayani Ghat, Kuberganaga river and Bhagirathi Kund in Alandi Devachi.
Around 200 volunteers from city-based organisations, that included Biosphere, Samartha Bharat, Shri Shivaji Raigad Smarak Mandal, Green Groth Group, Swachh Pune Swachh Bharat and Sare Jahan Se Acha, had carried out the cleanliness drive.
Biosphere Founder and President Sachin Punekar said, “The drive focused on collecting and sensitising people on garbage menace and its ill-effects. Around 1.5 tonnes of waste was collected. Waste plastic bags and clothes, bottles and bio-medical waste were found near the river bank. Also, nirmalya (floral offering) was collected in a huge number from the river bank.”
Environment activist Sathya Natrajan said, “The rural people of Alandi do not have the mechanism to dispose of the waste so they used to burn it which, in turn, is leading to air pollution. To stop this practice, the Alandi Municipal Corporation, which joined us for the drive, assured that the garbage will be collected regularly which would keep the environment safe and clean.”
Punekar said Prakash Javadekar, who has been appointed as Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the new Narendra Modi government, had called during the drive and assured that he will help the initiative to grow at a larger level by bringing in government support.
