Popular scenic spots, turned into dumps due to littering by visitors, are set to get a fresh lease of life. Trekkers, students and locals have teamed up to form a group that will clean waterfalls around Mumbai



Litter at Zenith waterfall near Khopoli

Popular scenic spots, turned into dumps due to littering by visitors, are set to get a fresh lease of life. Trekkers, students and locals have teamed up to form a group that will clean waterfalls around the city. After a similar successful drive at six waterfalls near Mumbai, the group has now taken up Kondeshwar waterfall and temple in Badlapur.



The group at Anandwadi waterfall in Neral

NGO Environment Life along with Sahyamitra Trekking group from Vasai-Virar has planned a clean-up drive at the temple on December 18.

Dharmesh Barai of Environment Life, who is coordinating the drive, said, “There are so many beautiful places and natural waterfalls close to Mumbai, which attract thousands of people. Most tourists visit these places and throw garbage in the water and surrounding areas. And the authorities responsible for the cleaning are least bothered, which is damaging plant and animals.”

“Considering the seriousness of the issue, we decided the take up the cleaning, approaching as many people as possible for it,” he added.

Spreading awareness

While local authorities are not taking much interest, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has extended a helping hand to the group by supporting its initiative. Its Public Relation Officer Sanjay Bhuskute said, “Along with the cleaning, the group is doing public awareness to stop people from littering. We are happy to help them. But the fact is the cleaning of such places comes under the district authorities.”

In a bid to restrict people from littering at these places the group has suggested simple measures, such as putting up boards warning not to throw garbage and bottles inside waterfalls.

Pawan Deshmukh of Sahyamitra Trekking group said, “The tourists visiting these places throw plastic, wrappers and liquor bottles inside the waterfalls. Many times, the broken pieces of bottles hurt cattle as well as villagers, who drink from these waterfalls. This need to be stopped, and through our campaign we are trying to do just that, make more and more people aware about the repercussions of littering.”

“Local authorities should at least put up a board saying not to throw anything inside or in the surrounding area,” he added.