2,000 VRV volunteers to take part in ocean clean-up

This weekend, nearly 2,000 volunteers will participate in a mega ocean clean-up drive at Versova even as Erik Solheim, chief of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Lewis Pugh, UN patron of the oceans, take their efforts to a global audience.

In what is being billed as the world’s largest clean-up drive ever, the Versova Residents Volunteer (VRV), instituted barely 40 weeks ago with just two volunteers, has till now cleared more than one million kilogram of plastic waste from Versova Beach. The UNEP officials, who congratulated the group on its phenomenal success, are slated to make a documentary on this noble initiative.

The Asian Age had earlier reported how Mr Pugh, who came across members of VRV on social media, expressed his desire to join the movement. “They set an example across the world. Imagine if such a group was formed in every city in India and across the world - what an impact they would have,” he told this newspaper. Both Mr Pugh and Mr Solheim contacted members of VRV and said they wanted to travel all the way to India to witness the splendid efforts of the group.

“Mumbai beach plastic clean-up continues. A truly inspiring example of civil leadership,” tweeted Mr Solheim a few days ago.

In fact, this is Mr Solheim’s first visit to any country post taking charge as UNEP chief. UNEP, scheduled to participate in the VRV campaign over weekends, will also shoot a documentary to spread the word about this extraordinary journey of ordinary citizens aimed at freeing the ocean of one million kilogram of garbage in a matter of 40 weeks.

Talking about the milestone, Afroz Shah, who is the co-founder of VRV and spearheads it, said that the appreciation has come as a pleasant surprise for residents who have been working relentlessly and have sacrificed their weekends for a noble cause.

“It’s an honour to host global environment leaders. We are planning an around 2000 volunteer clean-up on the day and UNEP officials have expressed their wish to participate in the same. The officials have also said that the documentary will be shown across the world so that it can inspire many more people to initiate such movements and save our oceans,” said Mr Shah.