A grassroots initiative that began as a Sunday clean-up activity has evolved into a comprehensive 15-day drive led by young volunteers to restore the tranquility of Amrai, a forested stretch along the road from Sonegaon to Nagpur airport. Lokesh Thota, a social media influencer known as "Loki," explained that after the positive response to the initial clean-up in February, the group partnered with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), which is concurrently running its own environmental awareness programs during this period.
According to Thota, the majority of volunteers are young people. "On weekdays, around 12 to 20 volunteers actively work on site, and participation increases significantly on weekends. The volunteers have been steadily clearing waste from dense vegetation and hard-to-reach areas within the forested stretch," he said. He added that the NMC has provided logistical support, including protective masks, gloves, reusable gunny bags, and rakes to help extract garbage from thick bushes and uneven terrain.
So far, the team has cleaned approximately 150 meters of the forest stretch, particularly from the Sahakar Nagar entry side. Thota noted that the cleaned pathway now appears free of litter. The group has also conducted awareness drives among nearby shopkeepers and residents, encouraging them to avoid littering and support long-term conservation of the area.
Amrai, believed to date back to the Bhonsle era, is home to heritage features such as an old well constructed during the reign of Raghuji Raje Bhonsle I, adding cultural significance to its ecological value.
The volunteers appealed to citizens to actively participate in the drive to help restore Amrai to its original natural beauty. They indicated that clean-up efforts will continue after the monsoon to ensure long-term maintenance and sustainability of the restored area.
