Greens conduct ‘Swachh Charmadi’ cleanup drive in Charmadi Ghat stretch

Greens conduct ‘Swachh Charmadi’ cleanup drive in Charmadi Ghat stretch

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 17, 2024: During the Shivaratri festival, devotees traversing Charmadi Ghat in Karnataka left heaps of garbage along the roadsides. In response, environmentalists along with groups like Hasira Tapasvi and the forest department, conducted a ‘Swachh Charmadi’ cleanup drive to clear the waste near the forest edge.

Tonnes of plastic collected were sent for recycling. Concerns were raised about the pollution of tributaries leading to the Nethravati River due to the disposed waste.

Environmentalist Dinesh Holla emphasized the importance of devotees maintaining cleanliness not only at temples but also in other places, highlighting the detrimental impact of waste on water resources. He noted the routine disposal of leftover food and plastic waste at public places and stressed the sanctity of the environment. Waste dumping along the Charmadi Ghat road, from Kottigehara to Charmadi, was observed after devotees’ padayatra during Shivaratri. Disposing of plastic and other waste on Charmadi Ghat could affect tributaries such as Mrityunjaya, Aniyur hole, Sunala hole, and Neriya hole, ultimately polluting the Nethravati River.

Volunteer Pavan Kakathkar of Hasiru Tapasvi mentioned that the ‘Swachh Charmadi’ campaign was organized under the Bottles for Change-Plastic Recycling Initiative of Bisleri.