Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A visible decline in plastic litter was observed at Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary this Sunday, just a week after a group of environmentalists conducted a large-scale clean up drive and raised concerns about pollution at the popular nature spot.
According to the group, plastic waste left behind by visitors this weekend was reduced by nearly 60 to 70 per cent compared to the previous Sunday, when the sanctuary recorded one of its highest-ever footfalls and revenue. The development follows a media report highlighting the group’s efforts to tackle growing plastic pollution inside the sanctuary.
Environmentalist and chartered accountant Rajkumar Shah, who had been part of last week’s drive said, ‘The impact was visible. We found far less trash this time. It shows that public awareness can lead to behavioural change.’
The clean up team, which includes Jagmeet Singh Kukreja, Sharad Kataria, Pankaj Bhawsar, Ravindra Yadav, Advocate Milind Sharma, CA Gopal Mulani, Sudhir Motwani, Manoj Mourya and Firoz Patel had collected approximately 50–60 kilograms of plastic waste during their previous visit, filling around 16 bags.
Gopal Mulani reiterated the call for responsible tourism, urging visitors to carry back their waste and avoid single-use plastics. ‘Tourists must understand their role in preserving natural spaces. Small actions matter,’ he said. Pankaj Bhawsar added, ‘What we saw this Sunday is encouraging, but it’s only a start. Continued awareness and consistent efforts are needed to make this change permanent.’
The environmentalists said they will continue monitoring the area in the coming weeks and plan to engage with local authorities to install more waste disposal bins and signage inside the sanctuary. The reduction in litter following the clean up effort underscores the importance of civic participation and media attention in driving environmental accountability and change.
