Marking World Nature Conservation Day, the Youth Mission for Clean River (YMCR) and the Abralow Memorial Multipurpose Society, with support from the Itanagar Smart City Development Corporation Ltd, conducted a large-scale river clean-up campaign at the Yamaso River in C-II Colony of Ward 10.
The Yamaso River, a tributary of the Yagamso River, joins its sister river near the end of IG Park. Volunteers participating in the campaign collected nearly 3,000 kilograms of waste from the river and its banks during the day-long exercise.
Addressing the volunteers, YMCR Vice Chairman Keyom Doni stressed the importance of public participation in maintaining clean rivers and surroundings. He urged citizens to take responsibility for protecting water bodies and public spaces, adding that sustained community involvement is essential for environmental conservation.
Doni also highlighted YMCR’s continued efforts to organise river clean-up drives and awareness programmes across Itanagar to promote environmental protection and preserve local waterways.
During the operation, volunteers discovered a large accumulation of garbage between two multi-storey residential buildings located along the riverbank. The organisers alleged that the site has been used repeatedly for dumping waste, much of which eventually flows into the river.
Residents living nearby reportedly informed the volunteers that garbage has been regularly discarded from the two buildings despite repeated complaints. A ward member present at the site said notices had previously been issued to those concerned, but the practice allegedly continued.
The organisers warned that indiscriminate dumping threatens public health, aquatic ecosystems and the surrounding environment. They urged the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) Mayor and the Ward 10 corporator to initiate strict action against those responsible and ensure measures to prevent further dumping into the river.
