In a remarkable display of community participation, more than 750 volunteers, NGOs, and Gram Panchayats joined forces to collect an impressive 69 tons of dry waste during the annual Wari pilgrimage. The clean-up initiative, known as the ‘My Wari, Swach Wari’ movement, was launched by the ‘Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative’ (APCCI) with the objective of maintaining cleanliness along the Palkhi route, covering a total of 125 km from Pune city to Saswad and Yawat.
Every year, as part of the cleanliness drive, the roads along the Palkhi procession route are cleaned within a few hours by the Adar Poonawalla Clean City team, along with the Gram Panchayats of Loni Kalbhor, Kunjirwadi, Sortapwadi, Uruli Kanchan, Kadamwak Vasti, Wadki, Saswad, and dedicated volunteers from these villages. The collected waste is sent for scientific recycling, ensuring proper waste management practices.
To facilitate the collection and segregation of waste, APCCI installed approximately 25 green nets along the route, providing a convenient and organized system for volunteers to carry out their tasks efficiently.
Several NGOs and institutions have been actively participating in the cleanliness drive and played a crucial role in its success. Some of the notable organizations include the Runanubandh Foundation in Saswad, ASR Services in Manjri, Pune, Urulikanchan Gram Swachhata Abhiyan in Urulikanchan, Dreams Yuva Social Foundation in Kadamwakwasti, Jay Hind Group in Kadamwakwasti, Vidya Vikas College in Yavat, NSS and NCC teams from Nazire College in Saswad, Clean Wari Sanghatana in Kunjirwadi, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Samiti in Kunjirwadi, Sudarshan Yuva Mandal in Urulikanchan, Mahatma Phule Krushi Vidyapeeth in Pune, and Sohail Arts in Loni.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and various volunteer groups worked tirelessly for the past fifteen days to plan and organize this extensive cleanliness drive. Over 750 local volunteers were mobilized for the task, and APCCI provided them with collection bags, hand gloves, and garbage pickup vehicles to facilitate the waste collection process.
The collected dry waste mainly consisted of items such as plastic bottles, paper cups, and other non-biodegradable materials. To support this movement, APCCI deployed 53 vehicles and 110 waste warriors for four days. The volunteers were equipped with cleaning materials, including plogging bags, to ensure thorough cleanliness along the Wari route.
Mr. Malhar Karwande, Chief Operating Officer of APCCI, Mr. Nilesh Ramekar, APCCI Manager, and Mr. Satya Natarajan, a lead volunteer, visited all the villages to coordinate and mobilize the volunteers through WhatsApp groups, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
The success of the ‘My Wari, Swach Wari’ movement is a testament to the power of community involvement and collective efforts in promoting cleanliness and environmental sustainability. The dedication and commitment of the volunteers, NGOs, and institutions involved have set a commendable example, inspiring others to actively participate in similar initiatives and contribute towards a cleaner and greener environment.
