Latest news with #InduPrakash
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
World Environment Day: Noida citizens unite for Yamuna's revival
NOIDA: Dozens of young volunteers, civic officials, and environmental groups joined hands for a cleanup and awareness drive on Thursday morning on the banks of Yamuna river located in Sector 94, Noida, showcasing their shared sense of environmental responsibility. The event, organised by the YSS Foundation to mark the World Environment Day (June 5) in collaboration with the District Ganga Committee (Gautam Budh Nagar), Noida authority, forest department, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and other civil society groups, involved volunteers cleaning the riverbank, collecting plastic waste, and raising awareness about sustainable lifestyles. 'Plastic pollution is no less than a modern demon—it silently damages our soil, our rivers, and even our minds and economy. Today's effort is not just a cleanup exercise, it's a wake-up call for all of us,' said officer on special duty (OSD, health) Indu Prakash. The official described plastic pollution a modern-day 'demon', warning its far-reaching effects on mental well-being apart from environment. 'When youth take ownership of environmental issues, real change becomes possible. Our aim is not just to clean the Yamuna for a day but to spark a movement where every young person feels responsible for the environment. This river is not just water—it's life, heritage, and future all at once', said Sachin Gupta, director, YSS Foundation. The event was participated included deputy divisional forest officer, Abhishek Kumar, District Ganga Committee official Amit Kumar, president Sharda Hope and Harmony Foundation Prashant Rathore, director YSS Foundation Gupta, senior social activists Vikram Sethi and Durga Prasad Dubey, teams from Noida authority's health department and Yuva Shakti volunteers. Attendees also vowed to protect the Yamuna, reduce plastic usage, and commit to continuous efforts for river cleanliness, underscoring the urgency of sustained civic action in view of escalating environmental challenges. Organisers also stressed that such grassroots participation is essential for the success of broader initiatives like the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Idols to slippers: 100kg of waste removed from Yamuna banks
Noida: About 50 volunteers of YSS Foundation, a local social body, in collaboration with the GB Nagar district Ganga Committee, Noida Authority, and various civil society organisations, cleaned the banks of the Yamuna near Chhath ghat in Sector 94 to mark World Environment Day. The campaign, which was conducted under the guidance of the district forest department, collected over 100kg of waste across nearly 500 metres along the Yamuna bank, including single-use plastic, idols, clothes, shoes, slippers, school bags, and jute baskets. These were loaded onto a tractor and disposed of at Authority-designated dumpsites. The day also coincided with Ganga Dussehra this year, a festival celebrating the descent of the Ganges, hence, the programme began with a spiritual Yamuna Aarti accompanied by Vedic chanting, spreading the message of cleanliness, river conservation, and ecological consciousness. "Apart from puja material, the maximum waste collected was in the form of single-use plastic and wrappers of chips, corn, and other snacks. Other than these, there were household items and even electronic stuff like earphones, shoes, slippers, school bags, jute baskets and salt packets," Sachin Gupta, director of YSS Foundation, said. Indu Prakash, OSD at Noida Authority, called plastic pollution a "demon" that impacts not just nature but also mental, physical, and economic health. He hailed sanitation workers and volunteers as the real heroes of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. On the occasion, all participants also took a pledge to protect the Yamuna River, promote its cleanliness and conservation, and commit to a plastic-free lifestyle.
