INDIA: In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal of “Swachh Bharat” (Clean India campaign), Maharashtra Battalion National Cadet Corps (NCC), has taken the initiative called, “Puneet Sagar clean up drive” that is intended to clean up the beaches across Maharashtra.
As part of the campaign, a cleanliness drive was organized at Versova Beach in North West Mumbai by the Maharashtra Battalion NCC, Mumbai (“A” Group), on Wednesday.
The beach cleanliness drive
Over 130 NCC cadets had participated in the program organized under the guidance and direction of the Additional Director General of NCC Maharashtra Maj Gen Y P Khanduri, Deputy Commander Bharat Dabbal, and others.
The NCC cadets cleaned almost a two km long stretch of beach and collected the trash weighing about 700 kgs. The collected trash was then handed over to the civic authorities.
As part of the drive, the NCC cadets presented a “Nukkad” (a street play) highlighting the importance of keeping the beaches and surroundings clean.
In his speech, Maj Gen Y P Khanduri said that the NCC has begun voluntarily cleaning the beaches in different parts of Maharashtra.
There are nearly 3.5 lakh cadets in Maharashtra whose services will be utilized to keep the sea-fronts clean. The approach should be to reduce the garbage, reuse and recycle it to maintain cleanliness.
“The National Highway Authority of India is in the process of using plastic waste for the construction of roads. This is a good sign since the plastic will be recycled and put to proper use. The duty to maintain cleanliness is not only of the government, but it is the duty of every citizen,” he said. Along with this, he also commended the work of the NCC cadets and all the officers.
On the occasion, Bollywood actress Ayesha Jhulka said that even today foreign tourists think that the beaches in India are unclean.
“We must ensure that no part of the country remains unclean if we want to promote tourism. To throw paper/plastic glasses and food leftovers on the railway tracks from the running train is the dirtiest habit and it should be avoided. The cleanliness drive undertaken by the NCC is a beginning and it should inspire everyone so that every citizen is committed to cleanliness,” she added.
Jhulka recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic animals, including cows, consumed whatever they could get to eat at the street side.
“Eventually, there have been several cases where lumps of plastic were found in their stomach. If we can avoid the excessive use of plastic it would be better for everyone and the move will also help maintain proper ecological balance,” she added.
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