MAPUSA
Over 100 volunteers joined forces in a concerted effort to cleanse the Moira river, successfully extracting an estimated 358 kilograms of garbage, significantly enhancing the river's pristine condition.
The garbage was later handed over to the Moira panchayat for disposal.
The Mapusa Rotaract Club, Aldona BJP Yuva Mandal, Baga Kayaks and Travel XP had conducted the river cleaning activity on Sunday. The volunteers were given life jackets, gloves and garbage bags for cleaning. Many volunteers went collecting garbage floating in the river with the help of kayaks. Garbage collected from the river bank was later segregated and placed into garbage bags by the volunteers.
Former Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo and others also participated in the initiative.
Of the 358 kg of waste collected, 128 kg of waste consisted of glass waste mainly comprising of liquor bottles. Besides, other garbage consisted of 121 kg of plastic waste, 28 kg of rubber material, 24 kg of non-recyclable waste and 57 kg of other waste.
Sangam Mhapsekar, who led the cleanliness drive along with Aditya Dalvi and Mapusa Rotaract Club members, said the initiative was planned on account of the huge amount of garbage floating in the river.
“A large number of volunteers participated in this river cleanliness drive. Microplastics are a major concern as these small particles of plastic enter the food chain and ultimately affect people,” said Mhapsekar.
