Over 50 volunteers on Sunday joined hands to clean Selva Chinthamani Tank as part of ‘India Clean Sweep’, an initiative by Chennai Trekking Club.
M. Krishnan, Managing Director of Sri Krishna Sweets, launched the three-hour cleaning drive from 6 a.m. in the city. Volunteers removed three mini-truck full of garbage and non-degradable waste from the tank bed.
Launching the cleaning drive, Mr. Krishnan said that continuous efforts by environmental organisations have created awareness among people on the need for protecting environment. He said that children are playing a big role in educating parents on keeping the environment clean and following right garbage disposal practices.
Supported by Casa Grande Private Limited and The Hindu , volunteers of Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), green partner of the drive, took the lead in cleaning works.
Sanjay Prasad, chief coordinator of EFI, said that the 30-odd acre tank is bearing the brunt of urbanisation with channels that drain into the water body continue to bring toxic waste and urban trash. “Despite repeated cleaning drives, non-degradable waste such as plastic wrappers, polythene bags, bottles, styrofoam, rubber, glass, etc., are being dumped. Open defecation is another issue remaining unabated despite campaigns and initiatives by the Corporation,” said Mr. Prasad.
“I decided to spare three hours on Sunday after reading about the cleaning drive on newspaper,” said M. Tharun, a class VIII student from the city who took part in the cleaning along with his mother Nandhini.
Zebronics is the gift partner of the cleaning drive.
Around 70 volunteers took part in a similar weekend cleaning drive organised by EFI at Muthannan Kulam.
