Kids help make Subhas Sarobar plastic-free

Kolkata: In a bid to generate more awareness on the need to keep urban waterbodies free from plastic waste and pollution, a plastic waste plogging and wetland conservation programme was held at Subhas Sarobar on Friday, involving school students. The programme was organised by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), World Wide Fund for Nature West Bengal state office in association with Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). A total of 32 students, from classes VI to VIII, from different schools were involved in the initiative. The students were given gloves and tools for plogging as they collected plastic waste from around a large portion of the Sarobar. The students said they were excited to be part of the initiative. For students like Swasti Somkar, it was a first-of-its-kind experience. Officials said not much importance was given to Subhas Sarobar, which is also rich in biodiversity as Rabindra Sarobar. Heaps of garbage could be seen piled up along Sarobar's boundary wall on one side. Waste could also be seen deposited on the banks on the other side of the waterbody, heavily polluting the water. "This is a pilot project on Subhas Sarobar. We want to continue with the initiative, involving locals who could act as ‘Sarobar Mitras' to keep the lake clean," said WWF-India state director, Sangita Mitra. WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra, who was present on the occasion, said there was a need to spread more awareness on cleanliness measures for Subhas Sarobar. Officials of KMDA, the custodian of Subhas Sarobar, said a Rs 1.1 crore plan was prepared to rejuvenate Sarobar with a revamped walkway, surrounding the waterbody.