Ganeshotsav: Pune is 'growing', so is awareness among citizens, says SwaCH official

PUNE: SWaCH (Solid Waste Collection and Handling) has made a total collection of over 89,460 kgs of wet nirmalya, 28,850 kgs dry decorations and over 31,000 idols being collected by its waste pickers during the last two days of Ganeshotsav this year.
“We have learnt from our past experiences and the citizens also have become more aware. I have a Ganapati at home every year and so not only do I collect what others bring, I practice what I speak,” said Kanta Shinde, a SWaCH member who has been at the ghats for several years now.
“Every year is a learning experience. The city is growing, but so is the awareness among the citizens. Now those who come know where to find us. I would urge citizens, organisations and corporates to approach us in advance, not just for nirmalya but also for other events and celebrations, so we can plan and coordinate better. We can then have better awareness creation and even smoother execution,” Priya Kathuria, operations and events head at SwaCH.
Apart from waste pickers and staff stationed on the 22 ghats across Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to enable an eco-friendly celebration, a call for volunteers through traditional media like newspapers and radio and also through Facebook, texts and WhatsApp had many signing up. Citizens could access ghat locations and specifically assigned coordinators listed on SWaCH website, Facebook and WhatsApp messages making for a smoother engagement.