Itanagar: Itanagar: Volunteers removed over 2,160 kg of waste from the Yagamso riverbed and its banks in Chandranagar on Sunday as part of a clean-up drive.The initiative was jointly organised by the Youth Mission for Clean River (YMCR) and the Abralow Memorial Multipurpose Society (AMMS), with support from the Itanagar Smart City Development Corporation Ltd, the organisers said on Monday.Volunteers also conducted a waste audit to identify the primary sources of pollution in the river. The audit found large quantities of single-use plastics and packaging material, along with construction debris, discarded clothing and household waste.Items recovered included 151 plastic bags, 122 cement bags, 115 playing cards, 77 diapers, 55 plastic bottles, 55 pieces of clothing, 53 instant noodle wrappers, 50 electric wires and 33 metal rods, besides sanitary waste, medicine packets and electronic scrap.Organisers said the range of waste indicated unmanaged domestic dumping and continued littering along the stretch.YMCR vice-chairperson Keyom Doni said the audit was as crucial as the cleanup itself. “It allows us to move beyond simply removing waste to identifying what is polluting the river and why,” he said, adding that community awareness and stricter local waste management rules are urgently needed.Doni assured that YMCR will continue conducting periodic cleanup drives and will use the audit findings to engage local authorities and residents on long-term, sustainable waste disposal solutions.The event was facilitated by the NICE Generation Church Committee, which provided access to the river through its premises. Youth pastor Robi Bagang praised the volunteers for translating intent into direct, hands-on community service.
