Moradabad engineer's campaign removes 1.2 lakh kg of waste from Ramganga
Volunteers have participated in more than 218 clean-up drives to tackle river pollution since the campaign launched in 2018.
A mechanical engineer in Moradabad has led a community campaign that has removed over 1.2 lakh kg of waste from the Ramganga river, according to a Times of India report. Kapil Kumar, founder of the organisation Parivartan 'The Change', started the Clean Up Ram Ganga Campaign on April 22, 2018.
The campaign has involved more than 5,000 people through more than 218 clean-up drives. Since June 5, 2021, the group has conducted weekly Sunday clean-ups at Lalbagh Ghat to address pollution.
Volunteers focus on collecting plastic and non-biodegradable materials, while organic offerings like flowers are placed in composting pits. The organisation also manages a SEHYOG initiative that sells recyclable materials to fund its work.
Kumar noted that while waste collection is important, untreated sewage and industrial waste also impact the river. He stated that the greatest achievement has been the change in people's behaviour rather than the weight of the waste removed.
Parivartan has provided a 10-point plan and a 200-week campaign guide to the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the State Mission for Clean Ganga. These documents call for better sewage treatment before wastewater reaches the river.