Coimbatore: As part of observing World Earth Day, volunteers of Environmental Foundation India came together for a cleanup at the Kumarasamy Lake on Sunday.

EFI, which has been involved in cleaning and restoration of lakes across eight States engages the community to make projects sustainable and long lasting. Lakes in the country bear the brunt of urban carelessness, with many becoming dump yards and sewer drains, leading to loss of critical habitats.

This initiative was to reclaim lost habitats and ensure protection of what is left. EFI has been organising a series of lake cleanups in and around Coimbatore round the year. On Sunday, the effort lasted for three hours where bunds of the lake were cleared of non-degradable wastes like plastic, rubber and thermocol. The wastes were mainly plastic carry bags which pose a grave threat to lakes as well as the biodiversity, especially birds.

ALSO READ : This breed of smugglers swears by diesel from Dubai

As many as 40 volunteers involved in the drive also found expired medicines being dumped in the lake. According to EFI chief coordinator Sanjay Prasad, “The medicines from a nearby hospital were dumped into lake at night on Saturday as per inputs received through the corporation workers.” Garbage was found on road apart from borders of the lakes, probably thrown from vehicles, he added.

The waste included eye drops and tablets along with, old photos and flowers bundled in plastic covers.

Over 1 tonne of the waste was removed from the lake by volunteers and sanitary workers from the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Leave this field empty if you're human: