Panaji: Maintaining cleanliness of our surroundings is the bounden duty of every citizen towards society, said Chairman of Goa Rehabilitation Board and Cumbarjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai.
He was speaking at a cleanup programme at Carambolim Lake as part of the second phase of the Swachh Jal, Swachh Mann project organised on February 25.
The programme was a water cleaning and conservation initiative by Sant Nirankari Mission under the Union Ministry of Culture’s Project Amrit.
Also present were Kushta Salelkar, sarpanch, Carambolim panchayat, Jayesh Naik, panch, Laxmikant Kankonkar, chairman, tenants’ association, Umesh Desai, Coordinator , Sant Nirankari Mandal, Goa and other dignitaries
The cleanup was undertaken from 8am to 1pm of the lake and the vicinity. Around 600 volunteers of the Sant Nirankari Mandals as well as villagers participated in the cleanup initiative.
Faldessai also deployed his personal truck to gather the waste collected during the cleanup programme.
Thanking the Union government for the initiative, Faldessai underscored the need to take up such cleanup programmes that helps rejuvenate water bodies while also benefiting villagers.
“It was nice to see more than 600 people here unitedly taking part in this cleanup initiative by Sant Nirankari Mission. Such water bodies are the source of life. Carambolim Lake is a popular spot for visitors as it attracts many birds to this place, he said.
“We have also initiated a beautification project for the lake that will benefit the localsWe need to maintain cleanliness at such important places. Not only does the ecosystem thrive, but it also benefits people. As responsible citizens, we need to desist from indiscriminate dumping of waste in open places as the garbage ends up in such water bodies and causes pollution. Let us all work towards Swacch Bharat, Nitol Goem,” he added.
