River cleaning and awareness campaign about responsible picnicking at Sekmai river
Imphal, January 28, 2013
The Manipur Cycle Club (MCC) along with the Gorkha Jyoty Youth Club (GJYC) organized their regular monthly critical mass coupled with river cleaning and awareness campaign about responsible picnicking on 28 January 2013 at the Hatikhuwa, Kanglatombi portion of the Sekmai river. The event was participated by local youth club members and panchayat member apart from 25 members of MCC Advisors including Dr. RK Ranjan, Roy Laifungbam and Yambem Laba.
This picnic spot drew more than 500 cars during peak season of January and the garbage generated are seen scattered all over the place making this once beautiful location look like some kind of garbage dumping ground. While knowing that a day’s effort cannot clean the river and its ecosystem, the team of MCC and GJYC went around and collected used polythene bags, water bottles, locally brewed liquor bags, broken whisky and beer bottles, washing powder and soap wrappers, potato chip wrappers, sanitary napkins, spoiled slippers and shoes, used plastic cups and plates, food leftovers, burned woods etc. The garbage were picked up from both river bed and the surrounding areas. We also witnessed picnickers washing their cars on the river itself with indication of water being polluted by oil & other chemicals from their cars.
The effort of MCC and GJYC was to bring awareness about riverine ecosystem and how un-restrained and un-regulated human activities can destroy the system all through the downstream. While, picnic or take a break on riverside is welcome, it was felt that with increasing number of people (with their cars) polluting the Sekmai river there is a need to bring awareness as well regulate the use of the river and its surrounding.
MCC along with riverine based villages along all rivers will work on a Dos and Dont’s for picnics or other non-traditional use of Sekmai River in order to save this river from further destruction.
Ram Wangkheirakpam
President
Manipur Cycle Club
Jupiter Yambem Center, Paona International Market, Imphal, Manipur, Pin – 795001
Telfax: 0385 2445134
Website: www.manipurcycleclub.org
Email: mancycleclub(at)gmail(dot)com
* This info was sent by Ram Wangkheirakpam (Manipur Cycle Club) who can be contacted at mancycleclub(at)gmail(dot)com
This Press Release was posted on January 28, 2013.
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