Dighalipukhuri cleanup: Citizens collect 1k-kg waste in 25wks, install bamboo bins

Guwahati: For the past 25 weeks, a group of citizens has been cleaning the historic Dighalipukhuri park in Guwahati's Ambari and have collected over 1,000kg of waste from its premises, the majority of which is made up of plastic.To commemorate their journey, which began last Nov, the group gathered early on Sunday and installed signage around the park, urging visitors to dispose of waste responsibly and avoid using plastic."We wanted to mark this moment not just with celebration, but by reinforcing our commitment to protecting Dighalipukhuri. During our clean-up drives, we often come across large amounts of plastic waste, bottles, wrappers, packets and other discarded items. It's disheartening to see how much plastic finds its way into such a historic and beautiful place," said Milin Dutta, who has been part of this initiative since its inception. Arghadeep Baruah, another resident involved in the clean-up drive, said despite their regular efforts, the recurring presence of plastic highlights the urgent need for greater public awareness and behavioural change."Cleaning helps for a day or a week, but if people continue to litter, it becomes a never-ending cycle. That's why we felt it was important to not just pick up waste but also put up signage and provide bamboo baskets. We want visitors to be reminded to respect this place every time they step into the park," Baruah said. The residents also said the waste dumped along the pond had gradually become buried under layers of soil. During the clean-up, volunteers dug out the waste, collected it in jute bags, and placed the bags near the entrance of the park for proper disposal. However, they claim that the bags have been lying there unattended, with a few even being burnt. The movement has begun to gain support among people of all age groups, including students who come for morning walks. The citizens remain hopeful that if the Dighalipukhuri drive succeeds, they will extend their efforts to other neglected sites across the city.