Meet Juhu's superhumans

After successfully aiding garbage removal in the suburb, two Juhu-based NGOs will join hands with the BMC and citizens for a beach cleaning drive, post the final Ganpati immersion

  It’s that time of the year when apart from rejoicing with the festivities, we complain about the traffic on our roads and the filth that is on display on our beaches. Juhu beach generates about 2,033 metric tonnes of garbage after the immersion of Ganesha idols. Two NGOs, Juhu Angels and Juhu —Soul of the City, came together recently to make a documentary film with Bollywood director Vikramaditya Motwane, that talks about the need to clean this landmark tourist spot. The film was launched on various social media platforms. The two- minute long documentary showcases the dirty side of the beach and how the workers clean it.

Volunteers helping to clean Juhu Beach along with the BMC after last year’s final day immersions

“Mumbai’s Juhu beach receives thousands of visitors daily, including elderly citizens who are there for their morning walk, to students as well as tourists. Every day, Juhu beach creates 28 tonnes of garbage and the amount increases to 90 tonnes during monsoons. During Ganesh Visarjan, the number sky rockets to 2,033 metric tonnes,” reveals Renu Bhasin, senior member of the nine month-old NGO, Juhu — Soul of the City. “Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appointed about twenty workers to clean the 5.6 km beach every day. But this is not enough. With the increasing amount of garbage, people should take the responsibility of making the beach a cleaner place themselves,” she adds.

Another Juhu-based NGO, Juhu Angels, has been working with the BMC to clean up Juhu beach for four years. “Even this morning, as I saw the state of the beach post the 5th day of immersion, I was in tears. It is a very sorry state of affairs,” says Larson Fernandez, founder, Juhu Angels.

The two NGOs will be holding a Juhu beach cleaning drive on September 28, a day after the final immersion, at 6.30 am along with BMC workers. People who want to contribute to the drive will be given gears and materials on the spot. More than 400volunteers including corporates and students are expected. “We have requested our MLA Amit Satham to give us 250-litre garbage bins. We plan to use the garlands to make compost. Hopefully, we will manage to clean the beach before
the morning walkers concludes Fernandez.

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