Thousands Take Stand Against River Pollution In Maharashtra

Mumbai: In a powerful display of youth-led advocacy, The Clean Water Challenge 2025 concluded with resounding success, uniting over 30,000 students from across Maharashtra in a movement to combat plastic pollution.

Launched by the Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation (BCRF) in collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup, the initiative culminated in an inspiring Award Ceremony held today at the Museum of Solutions, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

The Bharat Clean Rivers Foundation—a West Coast Marine Yacht Services and DialESG initiative—aims to restore India’s rivers by removing plastic waste and fostering environmental stewardship. Partnering with The Ocean Cleanup, a global nonprofit pioneering advanced technologies to extract plastic from waterways, the Foundation focused its initial efforts on Maharashtra, a state home to 47 of the world’s 1,000 most polluted rivers, including 13 rivers that flow directly through Mumbai.

The Clean Water Challenge was envisioned as a youth-centric campaign that leveraged creative expression as a medium for environmental awareness. Students from Grades 6 to 12 were invited to participate through three categories:

• Art: “The Colour of Tomorrow is Blue”

• Poetry: “To Water, with Love”

• Essay Writing: “From the Plastic Present to a Blue Future”

The response was overwhelming:

• 3,100 entries received from 39 schools across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region

• 30,000 students engaged

• 60,000 parents reached, promoting household-level awareness

“Through the voices and visions of our youth, we witnessed a profound call for change,” said a BCRF representative. “The Clean Water Challenge was not just an art or writing competition—it was a declaration of hope, responsibility, and action.”

The initiative also emphasized the relevance of the blue economy, promoting sustainable practices around water resources that support economic development, community resilience, and ecological well-being.

Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of the Bharat Clean Rivers Board, stressed the urgency of restoring India’s rivers and expressed the Foundation’s ambition to take The Clean Water Challenge nationwide in 2026.

By equipping the next generation with the tools and platforms to advocate for sustainability, the Challenge contributes meaningfully to global efforts toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• SDG 13: Climate Action

The Award Ceremony celebrated the outstanding creativity and commitment of students, as well as the dedication of educators and families who supported them. The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including:

• His Excellency Nabil Taouati, Consul General of the Netherlands in Mumbai

• Milind Deora, Rajya Sabha MP

• Amish Tripathi, renowned author

• School leaders and environmental advocates from across the city

H.E. Nabil Taouati highlighted the evolution of international policies addressing plastic pollution and applauded the youth for driving change towards a healthier planet.

Amish Tripathi encouraged students to harness their creativity while staying rooted in Indian cultural values.

Aashim Mongia, Vice Chairman of the Bharat Clean Rivers Board and a decorated yachtsman, emphasized the transformative potential of a vibrant blue economy emerging from clean river ecosystems.

Milind Deora inspired students to cultivate a mindset that sees opportunities in every crisis. “It is the ability of the human mind to convert each and every crisis into an opportunity,” he said while addressing key concerns around plastic pollution and blue economy solutions.

As the curtain falls on The Clean Water Challenge 2025, it leaves behind more than winners—it leaves behind a legacy of awareness, hope, and a growing movement among Mumbai’s youth to protect the city’s rivers and redefine its relationship with water.