Pune: A campaign titled "Chala Ek Paool Indrayani Kade" (Let’s Take a Step Towards Indrayani) was launched on Sunday (September 22).

Several environmental groups, including the Indrayani Seva Foundation, Pimpri’s Green Army, and Indrayani Jalmitra, came together to raise awareness about the river pollution issue and begin the process of cleaning the river.

Volunteers gathered at Moshi to remove immersed idols, old clothes, and other debris from the river.

As part of this clean-up drive, hundreds of immersed idols, photos, and decomposed materials were retrieved from the river's waters. The initiative was aimed at protecting the Indrayani River, which holds spiritual significance and is also essential for the ecological balance in the region.

Vitthal Shinde, President of the Indrayani Seva Foundation, emphasized the need for continuous efforts to prevent pollution in the Indrayani and Chandrabhaga rivers.

He appealed to environmental enthusiasts and spiritual seekers to engage in a year-long campaign for cleaning and protecting the rivers, especially on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sanmotsav.

The clean-up initiative saw participation from local figures and volunteers, including Vitthal Shinde, Prashant Raoul, Prakash Jukantwar, Vijay Suryawanshi, Vipul Kasar, and several others, who committed to restoring the river's health.

With the completion of the initial phase of the clean-up, the organizers urged local communities to refrain from immersing non-biodegradable idols in rivers and participate actively in future clean-up efforts.

The campaign is expected to continue, with plans to ensure regular clean-ups and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations during future festival seasons.