Versova Beach, in Mumbai, has never been known for attracting sunbathers. At one point, it was covered in at least 5 and a half feet of garbage.

“A man could drown in the plastic,” Mumbai lawyer and community activist Afroz Shah told the Guardian.

Today, the beach is not only clean, it’s attracting new visitors. In particular, a group of 80 baby olive ridley sea turtles, making their way to the Arabian Sea.

And all thanks to Shah and his friends.

Source: YouTube/Polymerupdate
For nearly two years, Global Citizen reports, Shah and hundreds of volunteers dedicated themselves to cleaning up the dump that was once Versova Beach. They cleared 11,684,500 pounds of trash from the beach and upstream rivers, cleaned 52 public toilets, and planted 50 coconut trees. They also taught the local community how to properly dispose or recycle their non-organic waste.

Source: YouTube/Polymerupdate
Shah’s initiative is being hailed by the United Nations as the largest beach clean-up project in history, and it’s truly making a difference. The last turtle seen on Versova Beach left more than 20 years ago. Seeing the babies return was a momentous event for the community, and everyone who pitched in to help.

“I had tears in my eyes when I saw them walking towards the ocean,” Shah said.

Week 127 .

Fantastic news for Mumbai .

We got back Olive Ridley Sea Turtle after 20 years. Historic moment

Nested and Hatched at our beach. We facilitate their journey to ocean.

Constant cleaning helps marine species.

Marine conservation centre needed at @versovabeach pic.twitter.com/j79xCKamNh

— Afroz shah🐬 (@AfrozShah1) March 22, 2018

The U.N. has awarded Shah with its “Champion of the Earth” award. Versova Beach is now the cleanest in Mumbai.

“I am an ocean lover and feel that we owe a duty to our ocean to make it free of plastic,” he told the UN. “I just hope this is the beginning for coastal communities across India and the world.”

#OliveRidleyTurtles make a come back to #VersovaBeach after 20 years. @ashupriolker takes a walk down Mumbai’s cleanest beach with the man who made it happen, @AfrozShah1 @versovabeach pic.twitter.com/xfSXf7W9VH

— CNBC-TV18 News (@CNBCTV18News) March 25, 2018

Shah’s volunteers aren’t done with their work yet. Many of them are watching over the turtles as they make their way back to the water, protecting them from birds and stray dogs. They’re also getting the first glimpse at an event that could not have happened without their work.

Week 127 . #BeatPollution

Connect with nature gets a boost when connect with fellow humans happens

This is the routine in all our Clean-ups.

We bond over plastic pick up ; then over cooking and food .

Lovely cleanup of ocean and amazing bonding .

Ocean , we love you . pic.twitter.com/5NConfxhC5

— Afroz shah🐬 (@AfrozShah1) March 25, 2018

“There has been a loss of a sense of belonging,” Shah told the Guardian. “You can have laws, policies, regulations in place, but if the community doesn’t have a sense of belonging, you can see what happens.”


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"I thought I was going mad," 72-year-old Stephen Mckears said after he first noticed objects moving in his shed a month ago.

The retired electrician noticed plastic clips appearing in an old ice cream tub filled with peanuts which he keeps to feed the birds before more objects began to accumulate.

Questioning his sanity, Stephen emptied the tub each night, scattering the nuts and bolts across his shed, only to discover the mess had been cleaned by the morning.

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