Itanagar, May 3: Over 161 students from Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here, removed an astounding 17,280 kilograms of waste from a 1.5-kilometer stretch of the Yagamso River near Chandranagar on Friday, as part of a major cleanup effort aimed at promoting environmental awareness and responsible waste management.
The river cleanup was a practical exercise under the environmental science module-3 syllabus for students enrolled in integrated undergraduate studies (IUGS) programs including BA, BSc, CSE, and BBM.
Organised jointly by the Youth Mission for Clean River (YMCR) and RGU’s environmental science department, with support from the Itanagar Smart City Development Corporation limited, the initiative gave students critical hands-on experience in environmental conservation.
The students diligently sorted collected waste, composted biodegradable items, and set aside PET bottles and other dry waste for recycling. Multi-layered plastics and non-recyclable waste were sent to the Chimpu dumping ground for disposal.
Beyond physical cleanup, the participants also conducted a door-to-door information education communication (IEC) campaign in nearby communities, led by YMCR convenor Kanku Kabak.
They educated residents about household waste segregation and shared informative materials to encourage active community participation in keeping the Yagamso River clean.
The effort was supervised by RGU Zoology department teaching assistants Dr Jacob Ngukir, Dr Hage Asung, and Dr Krishnakhsi Misra. Dr Ngukir extended gratitude to RGU Registrar Dr N T Rikam for logistical support and to IUGS Director Prof Santanu K Patnaik for his technical guidance and encouragement.
YMCR general secretary Dr Prem T Loda, addressing the students earlier, explained key waste-related challenges and management strategies. He thanked the EVS department for the collaboration, emphasising the campaign’s value as a real-world application of classroom learning.
