‘My River My Valentine’ Initiative for Mutha River Conservation on Saturday

Participation of Worship Earth Foundation and Various Organizations; Trash Boom – A Sustainable Step Towards River Cleanliness

Pune: With the objective of conserving the Mutha River and creating awareness about environmental protection, Worship Earth Foundation is organizing its annual initiative, ‘My River My Valentine’, on February 14, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. at Bhide Bridge area, Navi Peth, along the Mutha riverbed. This year marks the 6th edition of the initiative, featuring a large-scale river clean-up drive and environmental awareness programs. Schools, colleges, NGOs, social organizations, and a large number of Pune citizens are expected to participate, informed Parag Mate, Founder of Worship Earth Foundation, during a press conference.

Present at the press conference were Foundation members Dinesh Kadam, Amrapali Chavan, Sameer Paulaste, PIB Media and Communication Officer Harshal Akude, and student representatives Akshana Kamble, Hardik Sonawane, Chaitanya Garje, and Durgesh Balke.
Amrapali Chavan stated that the initiative is being conducted in collaboration with Pune Municipal Corporation, Savitribai Phule Pune University, CBC – Central Bureau of Communication (Government of India), the NSS Department, and ‘My Bharat’ under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

Dinesh Kadam emphasized that one-day clean-up drives alone are not sufficient for river conservation. Therefore, in collaboration with Shipco Company, a sustainable and effective system called the ‘Trash Boom’ has been installed in the Mutha River. This mechanism helps intercept floating waste such as plastic debris, discarded floral offerings (nirmalya), flowers, coconuts, and other floating garbage, enabling systematic collection and disposal. The Trash Boom serves as a long-term solution for river cleanliness, helping preserve both the beauty and health of the river.

Sameer Paulaste added that in previous years, active participation from various organizations led to the successful collection of large amounts of dry waste from the riverbed, and a positive shift in public awareness regarding river conservation has been observed. To encourage greater youth participation, the initiative will include a river clean-up drive, reels competition, cultural performances, and environmental awareness activities. The primary objective is to provide students with hands-on experience in environmental protection. Citizens of Pune are urged to participate in large numbers.