Mumbai: 13 volunteers clear 87 kg trash from Bandra mangroves in two hours

(Left to Right) Glancy, Hillary, Gaurav, Sanchit, Annu, Akshata, Akansha, Ranjeet, Crystal, Derrick Angelsz (sitting down) Alexandria, Pinky. Pic/Special Arrangement

A group of 13 volunteers have cleared 87.3 kg of trash within two hours, freeing a part of mangroves near a naval aircraft at Bandstand in Bandra West on Sunday. The update comes from the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport (RCBA), the organiser of the ‘focused mangrove cleaning and restoration drive'.

The drive began at 7 am, and by 8:40 am volunteers had reportedly collected five huge sacks of trash along with big-sized individual trash items, all of which was then disposed of through a municipal garbage truck.

"Throughout the drive, the breathtaking moments become impossible to count. In the simple act of freeing a single, smothered mangrove leaf, a volunteer doesn't just clear debris, they witness a rebirth," stated Derrick Angelsz, Environment Director, RCBA.

Snapshot of the drive:

Date: 3 May 2026
Place: near a naval aircraft in Bandstand, Bandra West
Waste Cleared: 87.30 kgs of entangled marine trash
Total Volunteers: 13 (from Global Community Development NGO, RCBA)
Impact: Countless mangroves enabled to breathe again, preventing their death

How are these drives done?

As per the organiser of the cleaning drive, volunteers navigated dense mangrove terrain while exercising caution through solid boots, special protective gloves provided, and breathing breaks.

Collecting the trash involves cutting and extracting fishing nets, picking up cloth waste, ropes, lots of plastic waste, broken religious idols and hazardous debris such as broken glass and sharp objects. The drive is done in coordinated efforts by teams of 2-3 volunteers, which ensures both safety and efficiency. "We wait for some ideal conditions before starting the drives: mainly low tides and daytime," added Angelsz.

Reiterating the significance of mangroves, Derrick Angelsz, Environment Director, Rotary Club of Bombay Airport (RCBA), said, "Mangroves are your children's first line of defence against floods, natural calamities and air pollution."

Clean, Restore and Plant Mangroves

"I believe every citizen should take part in restoring activities like these at least once," added Angelsz.

Interested to volunteer? You can contact through the following avenues:

Call this Number: 9867341057
Join WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GM4o8W98eke1z8lutTbicW?mode=gi_t

Webpage: www.gcd.ngo