Nagpur: At a time when littering in public spaces continues to pose a serious environmental challenge, a unique citizen-driven initiative sought to promote cleanliness and ecological responsibility in Nagpur. Marking Earth Day, a “Run, Walk, Clean – Forest Plogging Drive” was successfully organised at Seminary Hills, drawing enthusiastic participation from volunteers across age groups.
The initiative was conducted under the Swachh Survekshan-2025 campaign by Wild Agile Foundation, with support from Nagpur Ploggers, DGS CAPS, and the PIU team of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.
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Apr 21 2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
Held on Sunday morning between 6:30 am and 9:30 am, the drive covered multiple entry points and forest trails around Seminary Hills Bal Udyan. Organisers had set up stalls at key locations, providing participants with essential materials such as garbage bags, gloves, masks, and sanitisers to facilitate safe and effective waste collection.
Around 250 volunteers took part in the activity, forming groups to clean different stretches of the forest area. The collective effort led to the removal of approximately 470 kilograms of waste, including 190 kg of plastic and 280 kg of other types of garbage. The large volume of collected waste highlighted the extent of littering in natural spaces and the urgent need for sustained awareness.
Environmentalists have long warned that indiscriminate dumping of plastic, glass bottles, and food packaging not only pollutes soil, water, and air but also endangers wildlife, which often ingest or get trapped in such waste. Additionally, accumulated garbage disrupts natural water absorption, impacting the ecological balance.
Speaking about the initiative, Praful Deshmukh, founder of Wild Agile Foundation, said the drive was aimed at more than just cleaning. “This effort was about instilling a sense of responsibility towards the environment. Seeing people from different age groups come together to protect the forest is truly inspiring. Small steps like these can lead to meaningful long-term change,” he said.
Students from DGS CAPS also actively participated, with around 20 trainees joining the drive. Sharing their experience, participant Pawan Sarada said the activity helped strengthen their connection with nature and deepened their understanding of environmental responsibility.
The initiative not only restored cleanliness in parts of Seminary Hills but also sent a strong message encouraging citizens to adopt responsible waste disposal habits and contribute to preserving the city’s green spaces.
