Volunteers remove more than one tonne of waste from Cauvery banks

More than 1,050 kilograms of waste was collected from the banks of the Cauvery between Mekedatu and Sangama in Karnataka during a clean-up drive on Sunday. The activity took place at Sangama, where the Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers meet inside the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Around 70 volunteers participated, alongside members of the organising groups.

The drive was organised by the Wildlife Association of South India, Freshwaters India Foundation and the Karnataka Forest Department. It formed part of National Wildlife Week, observed from October 2 to 8, and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. Members of Paani.Earth and Singers Sans Borders also contributed to the operation.

Volunteers removed waste from riverbank areas between Mekedatu and Sangama, a location visited by tourists and families. Participants said the quantity collected illustrated the scale of pollution affecting waterbodies at the site. The material included waste accumulated along the banks, although the source material did not provide a detailed breakdown of what was recovered.

After the clean-up, participants held an informal discussion about the prevalence of plastic waste. They considered ways to reduce reliance on single-use plastics and limit waste at its source. The organisers described the event as part of efforts connected to wildlife conservation and cleanliness.

The activity combined volunteer collection work with public discussion about reducing the waste entering or accumulating around the rivers. The drive did not include figures for previous clean-ups or details of any further action planned. Its recorded total was more than 1,050 kilograms collected by the volunteers and participating organisations in one day.