SAVE SOUTHERN AVENUE 10,000 kgs...

SAVE SOUTHERN AVENUE 2009
Score: 11571 kgs.
(82 kgs + 137 kgs + 506 kgs + 117 kgs + 513 kgs + 730 kgs + 915 kgs + 1000 kgs app.+ 1492 kgs + 1051 kgs + 1500 kgs app. + 808 kgs + 2100 kgs)*Park Circus Maidan collection- 2060 kgs+ 1600 kgs...

A number of developments to report from last week.

The highlights:

* We crossed the 10,000 kgs mark!
* We inspired a clone in Burhani Scout Troop, which embarked on the clean-up of the Park Circus Maidan (these kids cleaned out 3700 kgs across just two mornings!)
* We picked placards off trees on Thursday (taking out overall score to about 450), lifted concrete on Saturday (we lifted a record 2100 kgs) and we picked placards-cum-prepared garbage mounds for prospective lifting on Sunday

We were pleased about the following as well:

* We conducted a quick tour of the gardened road divider with Mr RS Goenka, co-chairman of Emami Limited; he promised that as soon as we clear the patch of plastic-paper-concrete, his team would move in and start grassing the patch. That’s a breakthrough!
* We encountered the generosity of arnab basu of monginis who provided cakes for all volunteers and promised ongoing replenishments; we celebrated the 10,000th kg mark with a timely distribution of cakes!
* We are really close (a day of placard-picking) to making southern avenue completely free of illegal placards-banners
* We have been asked to address st joseph ’s school (bow bazaar) on Monday next, so we hope to widen the circle of Clean Calcutta
* We were surprised to find a 65-year-old ms maitree ghosh drive all the way from salt lake to clean garbage with us on southern avenue (wish southern avenue residents could just walk down and clean with us as well!)

Our forthcoming agenda:

Regroup on Thursday, 2 April 2009, diagonally across Birla Academy . Crack the magic 10K figure!
Regroup on Saturday, 4 April on the same stretch as Menoka Cinema to load concrete debris on to KMC trucks
Co-ordinate with the KMC for help with soil and plants so that we can green the one km stretch on Sarat Chatterjee Avenue
Co-ordinate with the Kolkata Improvement Trust on how we can collaborate and lift plastic waste from inside the parks.

This is how you can help:

Help us with introductions to the right people to speak to at Kolkata Improvement Trust.
Join us to pick the litter off the ground or off the trees. It is more fun that you think!
Do you know any young adult in your house, building or neighbourhood who would be interested to help? Send him / her our numbers.
Can you identify some really dirty spots (full of plastic and paper waste) in the city that we can possibly clean? Lead us!

Please contact Armaan Sood at 98304 33663.