The 5th trash dash at Borivali's Sanjay Gandhi National Park pumped fun games and prizes into an effective clean-up drive.

Spending a Saturday clearing a forest zone choked with trash may not sound like a weekend escape plan. But it was. The Natura Outdoor Education Trust's (NOET) fifth edition of the Independence Trash Dash was touted as India's first Clean-Up Marathon. The green goal: to clear the Borivali side of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, while taking time out for team games.



We knew we weren't alone when we spotted a busload of enthusiastic students head towards the registration counter near the park's Main Gate. Within half an hour, over a hundred participants had signed up, including students from a south Mumbai college and coaching class members from the suburbs.

By 10 am, as the blistering sun promised another scorcher of a day, the motley bunch swelled into a bandwagon of wannabe eco warriors. Armed with biodegradable trash bags, gloves, masks and bright yellow tees, snack pack in tow, a 130 volunteers looked every bit the part.

At three points along the 3.5 km route, volunteer bags would be weighed and entered against their name; maximum trash could make you a winner. Avishkar Tendle, Managing Trustee NOET ran through last-minute instructions with a team that included co-organisers Rotaract Club of Mumbai Downtown and Reef Watch. "This year, no sponsors came forth.

So we went ahead with leftover funds from last year's edition," he said, his cowboy hat and forest ranger fatigues reflecting a cause that's close to the heart. He wants to make it more than just an annual affair if Park officials agree. "It's a slow process, but we'll get there ufffd"

Get Down And Dirty
The mood was festive, almost picnic-like. Bringing some sanity to proceedings was Avishkar, who rattled off a set of dos and don't over a microphone, before the flag off. At 10.15 am, the Trash Drive was underway, as we scrambled to all corners of the public access area, to bag a share of scrap.

Joggers, walkers and weekend revelers who were making the most of the Gandhi Jayanti public holiday were in for a pleasant surprise. One bright spark caught our photographer's eye, especially since his bag seemed nearly full, in record time -- "I win the Trash Drive every year," he announced. What we noticed was that our champ had emptied a trash bin along the pathway! There were others, along the drive, equally blas ufffd about the means to reach the end.

The first weighing point was the Krishnagiri Station, on the Lion Safari Train route. Our overzealous lot hauled in their catch, as a few organisers, in grey tees, accounted for their trash. The organisers lightened the mood by engaging them in a few teambuilding games.

Next, we headed for an uphill climb, across the Lion Safari Train tracks, towards Gandhi Smarak. The trash included beer bottles, tetrapaks, and humongous cartons, even rags of cloth. Sadly, more than the visible junk, what was alarming were layers ofu00a0 untraceable garbage, buried under the soil, choking the very foundation of this fragile ecosystem.

By now, the lack of regular physical activity was showing its signs on me. The 35 degree Celsius temperature and soaring humidity didn't help.

As I launched myself into second gear, I managed a 360-degree scan from the top, only to spot the golden-domedu00a0 Vipassana Pagoda in the distance with western parts of Malad, Goregaon and Gorai in the foreground. That top-of-the-world feeling, coupled with a gentle breeze came as a godsend and phased out the lurking sinuses.

Recharged, I crossed a stretch of uneven rocky steps and lush greenery with the odd, audible birdcall in the background. This roundabout pathway came closest to reminding me that we were actually, inside a National Park.

We returned to our first point, Krishnagiri for another weighing scale workout. Yelps of joy, laughter and fist pumping meant that volunteers were having a blast. Never mind, that by now, some of the bags and gloves were torn. Organisers were strategically posted to hand out replacements; water points played saviour too. The third checkpoint was near the Lion Safari Park. Bigger trash-filled bags emerged.

It was clear that the city's National Park was a dumping ground in disguise. We were nearing the end but somehow this exercise seemed insufficient. Visitors to the park didn't seem to appreciate what was unfolding either. Avishkar's words from earlier rang out louder -- "more support from authorities, increased awareness and funding." A steep road lay ahead.

Dance India Dance favourite Mayuresh Wadkar, who's been a strong supporter of the cause for years now, distributed the prizes. Mahesh Gupta, who collected a whopping 115 kgs of trash, was declared the winner. Biryani proved timely fuel, amidst the celebratory mood all around. A day well spent. Avishkar was ecstatic, "this year, despite lesser numbers, we crossed all expectations. I'm grateful that people have come out despite it being a public holiday."

National Park or public garden?
"The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the largest park in the world within city limits," boasts the official website about the Borivali National Park. While this might sound like a great record on paper, the inside story is far from comforting. The area under the park has already decreased from 104 to 96 sq kms; the public access area inside is a sight for sore eyes.

Reduced to a badly maintained public garden, civic sense is non-existent. Bins are inadequate. Except for a few vintage public hoardings, there is zero orientation to inform people about dos and don't inside a forest. Lack of patrolling means it has become a free for all, picnic-cum-litter zone.

We were appalled at spotting few youth freely tread into one of the flowing streams for a dip, and return only to litter a spot that was trash-free barely ten minutes earlier, thanks to the clean-up drive.

How to Reach

By Rail Board any Borivali or Virar bound train on the Western Railway. Hail an auto from the eastern side to reach the main gate of the National Park. If you are coming from the Central suburbs, switch to the Western side, at Dadar.