‘A historic moment’ as Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings emerge on Versova Beach, a coastline once buried under tons of plastic trash. Activist Afroz Shah has decided to ‘move on’ from the campaign and shares video of the dramatic improvement.
Dramatic improvement shown in 3-year timeline video
Lawyer-activist Afroz Shah, in a video shared on Twitter on Sunday, showed the dramatic improvement in the state of Mumbai’s Versova Beach over the course of three years. Shah also announced that he has decided to "move on" from the beach clean-up drive, which he had been spearheading since October 2015.
Shah to “move on” from beach clean-up drive, which he had been spearheading since October 2015
Lawyer-activist Afroz Shah, in a video shared on Twitter on Sunday, showed the dramatic improvement in the state of Mumbai’s Versova Beach over the course of three years. Shah also announced that he has decided to "move on" from the beach clean-up drive, which he had been spearheading since October 2015.
While describing the challenges he faced during his campaign, Shah told First Post: "The first challenge was to change the mindset of the people who live around the beach and also of the people who litter on the streets and the nearby creeks, thereby contributing to the unsanitary surroundings. The second challenge was to change the outlook of municipal authorities. In some campaigns, the authorities came on board, but the people didn’t; in others, the situation was precisely the opposite. Getting both to join a cause is a difficult task."
In response to Shah’s tweet on Sunday evening, a number of people congratulated him and expressed happiness at the improved conditions at the Versova Beach.
Source: FirstPost.com
“Fantastic news” for Mumbai as 80 hatchlings are observed sctuttling into the sea
Around 80 hatchlings were observed sctuttling into the sea after being born at Versova beach last week. It is the first time in almost 20 years that Olive Ridley turtles have been born on that stretch of beach facing the Arabian Sea.
Mumbai lawyer, Afroz Shah, launched a massive volunteer project in 2015 to clear the beach. Volunteers of all ages and walks of life removed a staggering 5,000 tons of litter which was up to 5ft/1.5m deep in places, and local authorities provided amenities such clean-up marshals, garbage trucks and excavator machines. So successful was the project that the UN declared it the world’s largest beach clean-up.
Shah described the event as a "historic moment" and "fantastic news for Mumbai" as he watched the babies emerge and scuttle into the waves.
Source: TheIndependent
AROUND 80 HATCHLINGS WERE WITNESSED SCUTTLING INTO THE SEA
Baby Olive Ridley turtles hatched on a Mumbai beach for first time in 20 years after mass litter clean-up operation. Hatchlings emerging on the coastline once overwhelmed by plastic was a ‘historic moment’ said cleanup organiser and local lawyer, AfrozShah Shah. The tiny turtles hatched on Versova Beach which, just three years ago, was buried under thousands of tons of plastic litter.
“This is nature’s gift to us,” says beach cleanup organiser
Only a few years ago, if someone had spoken of seeing Olive Ridley turtles on Mumbai’s Versova beach, many would have laughed at the idea, given the appalling state the beach had fallen into. On the afternoon of March 23, a handful of volunteers associated with the Versova beach clean up were among the lucky few saw the turtles on the beach and ‘escorted’ them safely to the Arabian sea. The volunteers counted as many as 80 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings.
“It is a historic day for the city," an ecstatic Shah told The Mumbai Mirror, "No one can believe that Olive Ridley turtles can nest and hatch in Mumbai, and that too at Versova beach," he said. "It has still not sunk in."
Afroz Shah has been leading a dedicated team of volunteers, which has, for more than two years now, diligently cleaned up the filthy Versova beach every weekend. They have completed over 125 weeks of marine litter clean up and removed thousands of tons of garbage from the beach."This is nature’s gift to us," said Afroz Shah. "It also means that our responsibilities increase. We need a proper Marine Conservation Centre."
Source: MumbaiMirror
LAWYER SPEARHEADS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BEACH CLEAN-UP MUMBAI
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