Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised environmentalist Afroz Shah and his efforts towards cleaning Mumbai’s dirtiest Versova’s beach. He lauded the effort of Mr Shah, saying that he started cleaning Versova in October 2015 and later it turned into a people’s movement. Versova beach has now been transformed into a clean and beautiful beach, he said.
“I heartily congratulate Afroz Shah and his entire team for their efforts in cleaning Mumbai’s Versova beach,” Prime Minister Modi said in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address.
Commended @AfrozShah1 & his team and Reasi in J&K for their contribution towards a clean India. #MannKiBaat https://t.co/WCqPxNroLL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2017
UN Environment Programme awarded Shah with the “Champion of the Earth” Award. He is the first Indian to receive this honour.
Calling it an ‘inspiring example’, Prime Minister Modi praised Mumbaikers for removing tonnes of waste from the beach in about 80-90 weeks.
People toiled for about 80-90 weeks, unceasingly and turned Versova beach around by extracting thousands of tonnes of waste materials and today Versova beach is clean and beautiful, he added.
Also Read: Mumbai’s ‘Dirtiest’ Beach Is Finally Clean. 5 Million Kg Filth Removed
The Prime Minister also lauded the people as well as local administration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district for making it free from open defecation under the Swachh Bharat Campaign.
With Inputs From IANS
