Priya Dutt's volunteers clean up of post-festival mess in Mumbai

Mumbai, Sept 15 : Volunteers led by Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Dutt thronged popular Juhu beach in Mumbai on Monday to participate in a cleanliness drive, a day after thousands of idols of god Lord Ganesh were immersed in water bodies.

The ten-day long Ganesh festival, one of the most vibrant festivals in India, came to an end on Sunday with thousands of devotees coming out for the immersion of innumerable idols of lord Ganesh in water bodies.

Thousands of people thronged the beaches to see the idols of their loved god being immersed amidst beating of drums and processions in a farewell ritual. The rituals leave the beachfronts littered.

Priya Dutt, a MP of ruling Congress Party participated in the drive along with 500 school children cleaning up Mumbai's popular Juhu beach.

"Our focus is to collect the garbage from the beach and put it on the dumps provided by the civic authorities. The work here has to begin early before when there is low tide. I am happy to see the awareness among the school children. Around 500 school children joined me here," Dutt said.

The students enthusiastically participated in the drive not only to clean but also to create general awareness about environment.

"Our parents told us that we will inspire other people to join us in the cleanliness drive. This will create awareness about our environment," Bhavika Patel, a student volunteer said.

The idols made of plaster of Paris laced with certain colouring agents could cause irreparable damage to the marine life.

Immediate steps were taken by municipal authorities joined by environment friendly people to clear the wastage after the ceremony as it would keep the sea pollution free in a manner that would not hurt the religious sentiments of the people.

ANI