27 June,2014 01:26 AM IST | | Renuka Suryavanshi
Bavdhan resident Shailendra Patel has taken the onus of ridding the rivers in and around Pandharpur of pollutants
Due to his close association with the Ram Nadi Swachhata Abhiyan for the last several years, Shailendra Patel of Bavdhan took up the cause of keeping Chandrabhaga River in Pandharpur pollution-free.
Raking out the muck: Volunteers from various NGOs are doing their bit to keep the rivers clean
Patel said, "Every year, lakhs of devotees and warkaris gather in the holy city of Pandharpur to seek blessings of Lord Pandurang. I am one of them.
For the last two years, along with Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Pariwar, Jal Biradari and the warkaris, I have been going to Pandharpur on Ashadi Ekadashi to clean the Chandrabhaga and its surroundings. We work from 9 am to 3 pm daily."
He added that this year, members from NGO Jal Devta Seva Abhiyan joined the cause and roped in students of Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil College and officials from Pandharpur Municipal Corporation.
"The Ram Nadi Swachhata Abhiyan has organised various cleanliness activities since 2013 and has appealed warkaris and others to take care of the river Bhima. This year, a team of college students helped us spread the message," said Deepak Shrote, one of the volunteers.
Some other NGOS that helped are Muktai Sansthan, Sant Dnayneshwar Sansthan, Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan and Sant Gadge Baba Maharaj Sansthan.
