We organise drives before every festival, say residentsResidents of Pali Village are serious about celebrating a clean Christmas. Several residents spent Dec 12 cleaning up their village.

The cleanliness drive in this predominantly Catholic locality was spearheaded by Asif Farooqui. We try to organise such drives before every festival, says Farooqui.

I dont think it matters what community you belong to; its our collected effort to make the village look nice, he adds.

Farooqui, a member of the Pali Village Residents Civic Forum (PVRCF), says they sent circulars to approximately 100 houses, inviting them to help with the drive. Forty volunteers showed up and went around cleaning with a broom and dustpan, he reveals.

The volunteers were assisted by two BMC workers, residents, children and local corporator Prakash Bobabdi. Says volunteer Ben Fonseca, president of the Pali Village Association, An important aim of the drive is to educate residents about cleanliness and slowly bring down the garbage level on the road to zero.

Mario Pereira volunteered to help when he heard the announcements. Unfortunately I was not aware of the drive earlier. But when I heard about it and saw the posters, I rushed out to do whatever I can to help, he says.

Corporator Bobabdi has now promised to do his own bit. I will see to it that patchwork is done on the road to fill the small potholes, he says.

kanika@mid-day.com