In February 2016, residents had taken up the initiative to clean up the beach themselves once a week
Aiming to reclaim the beach in their area, a citizens group of Mahim has turned watchdog to keep an eye on contract workers, who clean Mahim beach every day.
In February 2016, residents had taken up the initiative to clean up the beach themselves once a week. Now, along with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a few residents have formed a beach committee to keep track of the daily clean-up done by contract workers assigned by the civic authority.
Speaking about the initiative, Anwar Khan, President of the Advanced Locality Management (ALM) of Dargah Street, said, "We meet once a month, along with the BMC, to discuss the agenda and list out the work done in that month. We also discuss solutions to issues like poor lighting, inaccessible roads and anti-social activities. A WhatsApp group called Mahim Beach updates the beach committee about garbage issues through photos. Few residents from the committee regularly visit the beach to ensure that the contractors do a good job of cleaning up the beach."
The residents started the initiative to clean up the filthy-looking beach and make it people-friendly.
"The beach had been neglected earlier but now we have been getting a good response from residents and the BMC. Many more citizen forums have joined hands, and are creating awareness about the initiative. We still have to tackle the issue of littering on the beach as visitors too litter the beach leaving no space to walk. With the beach being cleaned regularly, the number of people visiting the beach has increased," said Neena Kulkarni, a resident of Mahim.
Khan said the residents also meet up once or twice a month at the beach for community activities.
"The children play cricket and football together, it also gives a platform for senior citizens to meet each other," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Mahim beach")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}