Paithan, July 22 — More than 300 students removed an estimated 800 kg of waste from the Godavari riverbank during Paithan’s largest recorded ghat-cleanup on Tuesday morning, an initiative led by The Godavari Initiative (TGI) with support from Lipok Social Foundation and Marathwada Gramin Vikas Sanstha.

The hour-long drive began at 8:30 AM at the Shri Eknath Maharaj Temple ghat, where students from Icon Paradise English School & Junior College and Nath High School fanned out in teams to collect plastic, discarded flower offerings and other debris. Local devotees and shopkeepers joined spontaneously, turning the planned school effort into a wider community exercise.

TGI coordinators Anand Chikte, Harsh Fapal, Mrunal Verma and Kalpesh Mohod supervised the operation, ensuring the sorted waste was transferred for safe disposal. Principal N. Ramvat of Icon Paradise briefed students on segregating recyclables and emphasised that routine cleanups are essential to protecting the river’s ecology.

“Initiatives like these which involve students, youth and locals help build a sense of ownership and are vital for preserving the river and its biodiversity,” a TGI representative said at the close of the drive.

The Godavari, India’s second-longest river, is a pilgrimage site for thousands of devotees each year. Environmental groups have warned that increased tourist footfall and improper waste disposal threaten both water quality and aquatic life. Tuesday’s cleanup, organisers said, sought to demonstrate how coordinated local action can address those challenges.

By blending youth leadership with community involvement, the Paithan drive delivered a visible reduction in litter and set a template for future efforts aimed at safeguarding the river’s ecological and cultural heritage.