Maharashtra to launch cleanliness drive at 100 forts

Mumbai, Sept 17: Maharashtra government will launch a cleanliness drive at 100 forts in the state from Saturday as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde said here on Friday.

The drive would be carried out in forts situated in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Aurangabad, Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Dhule and Ahmednagar districts.

"There are about 350 forts in the state that have a rich cultural legacy. These forts are currently being preserved by the state and Central Archaeological departments, along with fort restoration committees. All of them will also take part in the cleanliness drive," Tawde said.

The drive, which will go on till October 15, will be kickstarted from Sewri, St George and Worli forts in Mumbai from Saturday.

"Preserving the forts, looking after their upkeep and ensuring they remain clean, are the duties of citizens which we hope they understand," the minister said.

The district guardian ministers, MPs, MLAs, municipal corporations and local bodies, under the jurisdiction of which these forts are located, would be asked to take part in the government's cleanliness drive, he added.

PTI