the goan I network
VALPOI
The Kumbhar Samaj Yuva Manch Goa collected an estimated 1 tonne of garbage, including a large amount of empty liquor bottles, as part of its annual cleanliness drive at Chorla Ghat in Sattari.
The cleanliness drive began from the Anjunem dam and went up to the Goa boundary at the Chorla Ghat, with school students, youth, teachers, doctors, forest officials, police officials and other volunteers participating in the event.
President of the Manch Ramdas Shetkar told reporters that their volunteers had collected around 1 tonne of garbage, which was later handed over to the forest department as the area comes under the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
Shetkar expressed concern over the large number of empty liquor bottles discarded by visitors, adding that many revellers visit the site and create a ruckus under the influence of alcohol.
“It has been disappointing to find liquor bottles strewn by the roadside even though there are dustbins provided by the forest department. The government should do something to reduce this menace as we have been carrying out this drive every year for the past eight years,” Shetkar said.
Range Forest Officer Girish Bailudkar appreciated the efforts of the Kumbhar Samaj along with other social organisation for contributing to conserve nature. “We appeal to visitors and travellers along the road between Goa and Karnataka to cooperate in order to conserve ecology,” said Bailudkar.
