Locals join HT to make Vashi sparkle

More than 200 people gathered around Vashi’s mini seashore at 7.30am today and worked together to make the zone clean and plastic-free. The clean-up drive was a part of Hindustan Times’ week-long campaign ‘Say No to Plastic’, which began on April 10, reports Sanjana Bhalerao.

More than 200 people gathered around Vashi’s mini seashore at 7.30am on Sunday and worked together to make the zone clean and plastic-free. The clean-up drive was a part of Hindustan Times’ week-long campaign ‘Say No to Plastic’, which began on April 10.

HT Image

Taking note of the plastic-waste clogging Navi Mumbai’s drains and its harmful impact on environment, HT carried a series of stories on the issue.

The event, which was the concluding part of the campaign, saw an enthusiastic response from citizens across age-groups. The theme of the event was ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’.

Various organisations such as Suprabhat, a senior citizens’ group, Fortis group, DY Patil group and Navi Mumbai Network (a youth forum) joined HT and pledged to make the city plastic-free.

Many morning walkers also joined the event when they saw people cleaning-up the shore.

“Making our city plastic-free is not just the responsibility of authorities, but also of the citizens,” said Rishi Mehta, a regular visitor to the mini seashore.

Manik Darwesh, 59, who came with the senior citizens’ group, was appalled at the lack of environmental consciousness among citizens.

“While cleaning, I came across scores of plastic bags stuffed with flowers lying on the shore. Such indifference towards the environment is just going to harm us in the end.”

Madhvi Dange, who participated in the drive from DY Patil group, said: “Every citizen should participate in such clean-up drives to understand the gravity of the problem we are currently facing. The situation gets worse during the monsoon. Plastic clogs the drains, thus causing many health problems and infections.”