Held:
Tuesday, 30th Jan (National Cleanliness Day)

At:
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali National Park), Borivali East.

Time:
9:00 am to 11:00 am

More than 400 children from various schools all over Mumbai gathered today, Tuesday, 30 th Jan 07, at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (also known as Borivli National Park) to observe 'National Cleanliness Day'.

Children arrived by the bus loads and in no time, took to their weapons for the day… gloves, big brooms, large black garbage bags and dustpans and actively involved in cleaning up. They handpicked litter from 3 different areas in the park identified as maximum littered by visitors, namely – Silonda trail (along an 800 mts path), Bamboo Hut area and the base area which leads up to the centuries old Kanheri Caves.

The clean up drive was organized by The Lotus Suites Ecotel hotel & Sanctuary Asia, India's leading wildlife, conservation and environment magazine to create awareness about the need to clean Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

On an annual average, the SGNP (Sanjay Gandhi National Park), the largest national park within city limits in the world, attracts about a million visitors. Also, apart from these, there are more than 25,000 families that stay inside the park as encroachments. Between these 2 sources, the environs of the park face the hazard of littering of non-biodegradable wastes.

"Visitors frequent the park and by littering, they cause hazards for the fauna here. Even the areas in the park not frequented are highly affected as a result. We are constantly trying to create awareness about the dangers we would have to face if littering is not avoided", said Shardul Bajikar from Sanctuary Asia.

Schools participating were - Yashodham High School (Malad), Holy Family High School (Andheri), Oxford Public School (Kandivali), Friends School (Mulund), Lexicon Global School (Dahisar), Divine Child High School (Andheri) and Carmel of St Joseph's School (Malad). Also, supporting the cause were volunteers of Janvi Charitable Trust.

"The children collected around 200 to 250 large bags full of garbage from all three areas. The garbage ranged from polythene bags, glass and plastic bottles, food packets, chocolate & wafer wrappers, etc. The hotel's scrap vehicle will deliver the garbage to the recycling plant", explained Jayant Shinde, environment officer, The Lotus Suites Ecotel.

The additional value given to children was that they were made aware of the archaeological history of the Kanheri Caves .

Representatives of Sanctuary Asia and The Lotus Suites also involved children in various features of biodiversity in the park while enlightening them on the potential dangers due to garbage contributed by visitors and picnickers.