Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative

In today’s rapidly changing world, the participation of young people is becoming increasingly important in creating sustainable and positive change. Waste management is becoming a challenging issue in most of the urban areas across the world. But instead of becoming mute spectators, youngsters are increasingly recognising the importance of a clean and healthy environment. In Pune youngsters are stepping forward to embrace social responsibility and contribute to the city’s well-being. This is evident from the fact that a growing number of young people are choosing to spend their weekends not just relaxing, but participating in cleanliness drives across Pune. From hills and riversides to streets and public spaces, youngsters and emerging community organisations are taking the initiative to make a difference.   Maintaining cleanliness in public spaces is not merely the responsibility of civic authorities; it is the duty of every citizen. The increasing participation of young volunteer...

गेल्या काही दशकांत पुणे शहराचा झपाट्याने विस्तार झाला असून, तुलनेने लहान शहराचे रूपांतर वेगाने विकसित होणाऱ्या मोठ्या शहरात आहे. वाढती लोकसंख्या, विस्तारत जाणारे निवासी आणि व्यावसायिक क्षेत्र, वाढती वाहतूक आणि वाढता वापर यामुळे शहरासमोर पर्यावरणाशी संबंधित नवी आव्हानेही निर्माण झाली आहेत. वाढत्या शहरी क्षेत्रात कचरा व्यवस्थापन, सार्वजनिक ठिकाणांची देखभाल, हरित क्षेत्रांचे संरक्षण आणि स्वच्छता राखण्यासाठी केवळ महापालिकेचे प्रयत्न पुरेसे नाहीत. यासाठी नागरिक, समुदाय, विविध संस्था, उद्योग आणि विविध  संघटनांचा सक्रिय सहभाग आवश्यक आहे. जेव्हा समान उद्देशाने लोक एकत्र येतात, तेव्हा त्यांच्या सामूहिक कृतीतून दीर्घकालीन आणि सकारात्मक बदल घडवून आणता येतो, हे पुणेकरांनी वेळोवेळी सिध्द केले आहे. ही आव्हाने मोठी वाटत असली, तरी पावसाळ्यात कचऱ्याच्या संबंधित समस्येची तीव्रता अधिक प्रकर्षाने जाणवते. रस्त्यांवर आणि सार्वजनिक ठिकाणी पडलेला कचरा तसेच अयोग्य पद्धतीने केलेली कचऱ्याची विल्हेवाट यामुळे सांडपाण्याची निचरा होणारी यंत्रणा तुंबू शकते, पाणी साचण्यास आणि अस्वच्छ परिस्थिती निर्माण होण्यास कारण...

Pune has grown multifold over the past few decades, evolving from a relatively compact city into a rapidly expanding big city. With a growing population, expanding residential and commercial areas, increasing traffic and rising consumption, the city is also facing new environmental challenges. Managing waste, maintaining public spaces, protecting green areas and ensuring cleanliness across a growing urban landscape require more than municipal efforts alone. It requires the active participation of citizens, communities, organisations, businesses and institutions. Pune has repeatedly demonstrated that when people come together with a shared purpose, collective action can create a lasting impact. While these challenges may appear enormous, the enormity of the waste challenge becomes even more visible during the rainy season. Litter and improperly disposed waste can block drains, lead to waterlogging and create unhygienic conditions. Yet, many of these challenges are closely linked to ever...

पुण्यात स्वच्छतेसाठी अनेक नागरिकांच्या नेतृत्वाखाली विविध उपक्रम राबवले जातात. अशाच अर्थपूर्ण बदल घडवून आणणाऱ्या उपक्रमांपैकी एक म्हणजे मायप्रकृती. हा विद्यार्थ्यांनी आणि तरुण व्यावसायिकांनी स्थापन केलेला एक उत्साही पर्यावरणप्रेमी समुदाय आहे. हा युवा गट  पुणे शहर अधिक स्वच्छ आणि हरित करण्यासाठी कार्यरत असून समर्पितपणे आठवड्याच्या सुट्टीच्या दिवशी स्वच्छता उपक्रम राबवत आहे. पर्यावरण संवर्धनासाठी केवळ जनजागृती पुरेशी नसून प्रत्यक्ष कृतीही तितकीच महत्त्वाची आहे, या विचारातून नोव्हेंबर 2025 मध्ये आठ मित्रांच्या एका लहान गटाने मायप्रकृती या संस्थेची स्थापना केली. सुरुवातीला संस्थापकांनी डिजिटल माध्यमांतून पर्यावरण विषयक जागरूकता निर्माण करण्यावर भर दिला. मात्र, नागरिकांबरोबर प्रत्यक्ष कृतीची गरज आहे,असे त्यांच्या लक्षात आले आणि त्यातून पुण्यात साप्ताहिक स्वच्छता मोहिमांची त्यांनी सुरुवात झाली. अवघ्या सहा महिन्यांत या उपक्रमाचे रूपांतर एका सक्षम आणि सक्रीय समुदायात झाले असून आतापर्यंत सुमारे 30 स्वच्छता मोहिमा यशस्वीरित्या राबविण्यात आल्या आहेत. कचरा संकलनाबरोबरच मायप्रकृती कचरा व्यवस्था...

Pune is home to several citizen-led initiatives that are creating meaningful change at the grassroots level. Among them is MyPrakriti , a young and dynamic environmental community founded by students and early-career professionals who dedicate their Sundays to making the city cleaner and greener. Started in November by a small group of eight friends, MyPrakriti was born from the belief that environmental awareness must be accompanied by on-ground action. While the founders initially focused on spreading awareness through digital content, they soon realised the need for direct community engagement. This led to the launch of weekly clean-up drives across Pune. In just six months, the initiative has grown into a thriving community and has successfully conducted around 30 clean-up drives. Beyond waste collection, MyPrakriti seeks to raise awareness about pressing environmental challenges, including waste management, river pollution, biodiversity loss, and the need for ecological restorati...

दरवर्षी साजरा केला जाणारा आंतरराष्ट्रीय जैवविविधता दिन आपल्याला याची जाणीव करून देतो की निसर्ग हा आपल्या जीवनापासून वेगळा नाही, खरंतरं तो आपल्या अस्तित्वासाठी सर्वांत महत्त्वाचा घटक आहे. स्वच्छ हवा, शुद्ध पाणी, सुपीक माती, जंगल, नद्या, पक्षी, कीटक आणि वन्यजीव हे सर्व मिळून मानवाच्या जीवनाला आधार देणारे संतुलित वातावरण निर्माण करतात. मात्र वाढते प्रदूषण आणि अयोग्य कचरा व्यवस्थापनामुळे ही जैवविविधता गंभीररित्या धोक्यात आली आहे.   पर्यावरणाच्या हानीस कारणीभूत ठरणाऱ्या प्रमुख घटकांपैकी एक म्हणजे वाढणारा कचरा. रस्ते, टेकड्या आणि नदी काठावर फेकला जाणारा प्लास्टिक कचरा अखेरीस जलाशय आणि नैसर्गिक अधिवासांमध्ये पोहोचतो, ज्यामुळे प्राणी, पक्षी आणि जलचर जीवांना मोठा धोका निर्माण होतो. कचरा जाळणे किंवा रस्त्यावर टाकणे यामुळे माती आणि हवेचे प्रदूषण वाढते. ज्यामुळे शहरे आणि गावे या दोन्ही परिसंस्थेवर विपरीत परिणाम होतो. यातील सकारात्मक बाब म्हणजे जैवविविधतेचे संरक्षण करण्याची सुरूवात आपल्या स्वतःच्या घरापासून सुरू होऊ शकते. ओला आणि सुका कचरा वेगळा करणे, स्वयंपाकघरातील कचऱ...

Every year, International Biodiversity Day reminds us that nature is not separate from our lives — it is the foundation of our survival. Clean air, fresh water, fertile soil, forests, rivers, birds, insects, and wildlife together create the balance that supports human life. However, increasing pollution and poor waste disposal are putting this biodiversity under serious threat. One of the biggest contributors to environmental damage is unmanaged waste. Plastic waste thrown on roads, hills, and riverbanks eventually reaches water bodies and natural habitats, harming animals, birds, and aquatic life. Waste burning and dumping also pollute the soil and air, affecting ecosystems across cities and villages alike. The good news is that protecting biodiversity can begin from our own homes. Simple habits such as segregating wet and dry waste, composting kitchen waste, reducing single-use plastic, and recycling responsibly can make a significant difference. Waste management is not...

टेकडीवरील जैवविविधतेचे संवर्धन करण्याच्या आवडीतून इकोफोर्सचे संस्थापक ओजस पाठक या तरूणाने आपली स्वच्छतेच्या कार्याची वाटचाल सुरू केली. कचऱ्याच्या वाढत्या समस्येचे निराकरण केल्याशिवाय खरे संवर्धन अशक्य आहे,हे त्याला जाणवले. नैसर्गिक ठिकाणी सतत जमा होणारा कचरा ही एक अत्यंत गंभीर चिंतेची बाब बनली आहे. या समस्येसाठी केवळ विचार व दृष्टीकोन नव्हे तर प्रत्यक्ष कृती आवश्यक होती. डिसेंबर 2024 मध्ये त्याने याबाबत स्वतंत्र अभ्यासाला सुरूवात केली.पुढील 13 महिन्यांत त्याने पर्यावरणीय समस्यांबरोबरच कचरा व्यवस्थापनामागील अर्थकारण आणि मानसशास्त्र यांचा सखोल अभ्यास केला. फक्त स्वच्छता मोहिमांपुरता मर्यादित दृष्टीकोन न ठेवता कचरा वर्गीकरण,पुनर्वापर आणि शाश्वत प्रणाली बाबत अभ्यास केला. यामुळे स्वयंसेवी संस्थेची अधिकृत नोंदणी करण्यापासून ते प्रत्यक्ष पातळीवर संरचित उपाययोजना राबवण्यापर्यंतचा एक स्पष्ट आणि कृतीयोग्य आराखडा तयार झाला. त्याचा हाच दृष्टीकोन अदर पुनावाला क्लीन सिटी इनिशिएटिव्ह (एपीसीसीआय) तर्फे आयोजित क्लीन सिटी टॉक्सच्या 13 व्या सत्रात इतर उपस्थित तरुण स्वयंसेवकांच्या तोंडून ऐकायला मिळाला.या ...

For Ojhas Pathak, Founder of Ecoforce, the journey began with a deep passion for conserving biodiversity on hills. However, he soon realised that true conservation is impossible without addressing the growing problem of waste. The constant littering on natural landscapes became a pressing concern—one that demanded action, not just intent. In December 2024, he embarked on an independent research journey. Over the next thirteen months, he explored not just environmental concerns, but also the economics and psychology behind waste management. His approach went beyond clean-up drives to include segregation, recycling, and building a sustainable system. The outcome was a clear, actionable roadmap—from formally registering an NGO to implementing structured on-ground solutions. This spirit of purpose-driven action resonated strongly at the Clean City Talks organised by the Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI). The 13th session brought together four youth-led organisati...

One of the most inspiring highlights of this year has been the increasing involvement of young volunteers stepping up and taking responsibility for their city. At Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI), cleanliness activities have always been at the heart of our work—beyond our day-to-day operations, actively engaging in large-scale public cleanliness drives across Pune. These initiatives include cleaning public spaces, riverbanks, areas around heritage sites, post-marathon clean-ups, and restoring cleanliness after major festivals. As we reflect on 2025, it stands out as a particularly special year, marked by meaningful participation and growing public awareness. A Visible Shift in Public Awareness This year witnessed a substantial increase in both the number of cleanliness drives and the volunteers who joined them. This growth clearly reflects a positive shift in citizens’ mindsets. People are no longer passive users of public spaces—they now want to actively con...

१२००  हून अधिक स्वयंसेवक,अनेक स्वयंसेवी संस्था आणि ग्रामपंचायतींच्या सांघिक कार्यामुळे २० जून  ते २४ जून २०२५ या चार दिवसांच्या कालावधीत १३०  टन सुका कचरा गोळा करण्यात आला. अदर पुनावाला क्लीन सिटी इनिशिएटिव्ह (एपीसीसीआय) तर्फे सुरू करण्यात आलेल्या माझी वारी स्वच्छ वारी या उपक्रमाअंतर्गत पुणे शहर ते सासवड आणि यवत या दोन्ही मार्गांवर सुमारे १४० किमी रस्ता पालखी प्रस्थानानंतर अवघ्या काही तासांतच स्वच्छ करण्यात आला. यासाठी अदर पुनावाला क्लीन सिटी बरोबरच लोणी काळभोर, कुंजीरवाडी, सोरतापवाडी,उरुळी कांचन, वडकी, सासवड, झेंडेवाडी, दिवे काळेवाडी, यवत येथील ग्रामपंचायत आणि पुणे महानगरपालिका यांच्यासह गावांमधील स्वयंसेवक यांच्या सांघिक कार्यातून पालखी मिरवणुकीच्या मार्गांवर काही तासांतच रस्ते स्वच्छ करण्यात आले. ही स्वच्छता मोहीम दरवर्षी राबविली जाते. यावर्षी स्वयंसेवकांना सहजरित्या कचरा गोळा करून ठेवता यावा यासाठी एपीसीसीआय तर्फे पालखी मार्गावर ६५ ग्रीन नेटस बसविण्यात आले. तसेच १३६ हून अधिक कचरा वेचक वाहने आणि मशिन सेवेत कार्यरत होत्या. अदर पुनावाला क्लीन सिटी इनिशिएटि...

Any transformation in society should start with individual self. Mental cleanliness and  respect for others will lead to outer cleanliness too, opined well known motivational speaker Mr.Vinayak Chhatre,Director  Vishwakalyan Guru Seva Foundation.  Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI)  on Saturday launched a special series 'Clean City Talks' which will explore various aspects of sustainability and what it means for a common man to keep our city clean and sustainable . Kick starting the initiative was Mr.Vinayak Chhatre who spoke about Sustainability and Leadership. Mr.Krishnan Komandur, CEO APCCI,Mr.Malhar Karwande, COO APCCI and  Mr.Sathya Natarajan, Lead Volunteer APCCI were present on the occasion .    Mr. Vinayak Chhatre has been a leading motivational speaker, initiator of Siddha Samadhi programs and has been involved in training activities for teachers. He is the  Managing Director, Forbaco Systems and Computer Services...

  एकीकडे हवामान बदलाचे भयानक स्वरूप आपण अनुभवत असताना त्याला कारणीभूत असणाऱ्या प्रमुख घटकांपैकी एक असलेल्या कचऱ्याबाबत आपण अजूनही उदासीन आहोत.  आपण कधी विचार केला आहे की कचरा एकदा आपल्या घरातून निघून गेला की त्याचे काय होते? तो गूढपणे अदृश्य होत नाही. आपल्या घरातला कचरा आपल्या नजरेसमोरून गेला की आपली जबाबदारी संपली असा आपला समज झाला आहे.  त्या कचऱ्याचे पुढे काय होते, कचऱ्याची विल्हेवाट कशी लावली जाते, त्यावर कोणत्या प्रक्रिया केल्या जातात याबद्दल फारसे काही माहित नसते.काही सामाजिक संस्था, स्वयंसेवक,विद्यार्थी कचऱ्याच्या समस्या हाताळण्यासाठी व कचऱ्याबाबतची जागरूकता वाढविण्याचे प्रयत्न करत आहेत. तरी देखील वैयक्तिक स्तरावर प्रत्येकाने हे जाणून घेणे गरजेचे आहे की आपल्या घरातून बाहेर पडलेल्या कचऱ्याचे पुढे काय होते.   पूर्वी आपण बाजारातून वस्तू आणण्यासाठी कापडी पिशवीचा वापर करायचो,त्यामुळे कचऱ्याची समस्या ही मर्यादित असायची. सध्याच्या बदललेल्या जीवनशैलीनुसार आपण थेट बाजारात न जाता ऑनलाइन खरेदी करतो. त्यामध्ये वस्तूपेक्षा जास्त हे त्याचे प्लास्टिकचे वेष्टन अस...

A new year resolution is an effort to bring about a change in individual’s behavior or habits that will have positive effect on self as well as near and dear ones. Most of the resolutions are centered around or focused on health, lifestyle or relations. But is it time to include waste management in our ‘New Year Resolution’? Yes, it is! One because it is more related to our behavioral aspects. Secondly because the effects of climate change are already there, be it extreme weathers, rising temperatures, tsunamis etc. Climate friendly behavior is now becoming an essential part of our daily routine and therefore a positive resolution at the start of the year will give it some momentum. Here are simple three things one can start with as an individual. 1. Segregation of waste – No matter how much awareness has been created, we still have a long way to go. Segregation helps unnecessary things from going to landfills thereby reducing the logistics and fuel. A large part of our was...

WORLD SOIL DAY- 5 December Saving the magical earth beneath us   Human health and human survival depend on the food we eat. The quality of the food depends on the fertility of the soil.  It is one of the most important and essential natural resources we have. Soil pollution affects fertility and jeopardizes food security. The presence of toxic substances causes soil pollution. Some of the contaminants occur naturally, but most of it is a result of human activities. The way we manage our waste, be it solid, wet or e-waste directly affects the environment and the earth beneath. World Soil Day is celebrated every year on  5 th December to highlight the importance of soil health and it’s role in a sustainable future. Waste management and soil are two interrelated subjects that have a significant impact on our environment. For years we have been indifferent towards this core issue. Soil is the very foundation of food generation, it provides clean water and is crucial t...

In recent times, marathons have emerged as a popular avenue for advocating fitness and a health-conscious lifestyle. The sheer diversity of participants, spanning various societal segments, injects excitement into these events. Witnessing people engage in such large numbers instils a sense of teamwork and accomplishment, which can be truly inspiring and profoundly impactful on individuals. Moreover, many marathons transcend mere physical and mental benefits, providing a platform to spotlight charitable causes and social initiatives. In essence, marathons are evolving into significant contributors to community well-being. Pune, in particular, is witnessing a surge in marathon popularity, with events ranging from small to large, including walkathons, taking place almost every week in support of noble causes. However, the substantial influx of participants also translates to a considerable environmental footprint, primarily in terms of waste generation. Items such as drinking water bo...

  Hon.Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi called upon the people to participate in cleanliness drive on October 1 across the country. Adar Poonawalla Clean City ( APCCI) actively participated in the mega cleanliness drive across various locations in Pune.   Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS)  campaign was celebrated from 15 th  September to 2 nd  October this year with a theme of ‘Garbage Free India’. The focus was on cleanliness especially at high footfall public places like bus stands, railway stations, cantonment boards, beaches, tourist places, zoos, national parks & sanctuaries, historical monuments, heritage sites, river fronts, ghats, drains and nallahs etc. in both rural & urban areas. In Pune citizens from various walks of life joined in the mega event with an hour long ‘Shramdan’ in run up to the’ Swacch Bharat Diwas’ on 2 October 2023 and a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary. The program was conducted under the aegis of the ...

Officers and Staff members of  Central GST and Customs office, Pune Zone and officials from Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI) came together for a seminar on sustainability . The program was a part of the ‘Swacchata Pakhwada initiative’ started in April 2016 with the objective of bringing a fortnight of intense focus on the issues and practices of Swachhata by engaging GOI Ministries/Departments in their jurisdictions. Mr. Krishnan Komandur, CEO APCCI was invited as Chief Guest for the seminar. Mr. Shivkumar Popat Salunkhe, Joint Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Audit-I Commissionerate Pune , Atul Gaikwad, Superintendent along with officers and staff members were present on the occasion. Mr. Komandur gave  a presentation on APCCI activities and sustainable lifestyle followed by engaging discussion with the staff members of GST office. The gathering discussed on various ways that organizations can collaborate for cleanliness and volunteering. P...

Entrepreneur and founder of the Goat Village homestays and the Bakri Chhap organic products brand in Uttarakhand, Mr. Roopesh Rai who is on a cycling mission to spread the word of environment conservation made a pit stop at Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI)  office in Pune. He was welcomed  and felicitated at the hands of Krishnan Komandur,CEO, APCCI in presence of Malhar Karwande, COO APCCI and staff members. Roopesh Rai set up on this cycling expedition six months back and will be travelling 12000 km across across six states and 120 village panchayats. The major focus is on rural areas where he is motivating youngsters to take care conserve their cultural and natural heritage with ‘Jal, Jungle, Jameen’  initiative and is appointing 120 ‘Prakriti Pahiris’  as custodians of this endeavor. As a part of this campaign ‘Ficus’ tree symbolic of bio-diversity is being planted. The rural youth is being asked to report about this tree in a storytelli...

Around 20-25 volunteers from about 13 NGOs and organizations gathered at the Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI)  office in Pune on Saturday 9 September 2023 . The NGOs were felicitated for participating in the mega initiative ‘Don Tass Ek Swachh Prayas’ which was organized to mark Independence Day. This was the second consecutive session where APCCI felicitated various organizations and volunteers for their continuous efforts towards making the city clean. The program included  presentation of various collaborative initiatives by APCCI, and  information on Don Tass Ek Swachh Prayas’ started by Wing Commander ( Retd) Puneet Sharma after which volunteers shared their on field experiences .  Various volunteers opined that we must take the ownership of the place where we live, we must be the change if we want to change things around us. This was the continuation of the first  program which was organised on 2 September 23 . The organization...