‘Vana Prakshalan’’ drive in forest area surrounding Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple
HYDERABAD: The Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Vikarabad became a hub of environmental action during the Vana Prakshalan forest cleanliness and awareness drive, where corporate volunteers, NGO members, and government officials joined forces to champion conservation.
A team of 28 Amazon volunteers and 8 from HyTiCoS rolled up their sleeves alongside Forest and Endowment Department officials, tackling litter in the lush forest that surrounds temple vicinity. The drive began with the unveiling of a Vana Prakshalan Awareness Signboard, which displays the message, “Let’s keep this forest clean. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Take back the waste.”
By the end of the day, volunteers had gathered 38 bags of waste from the temple and forest, carefully sorting recyclables from non-recyclables. Their efforts sparked fresh environmental awareness among devotees and visitors alike.
An Amazon volunteer explained the motivation behind the initiative: “We came here today for ‘Vana Prakshalana,’ which means cleansing the forest. It is painful to see people use plastic carelessly and without awareness. This place holds significant environmental and historical value. Discarding plastic in such a sacred area is disheartening.”
The volunteer urged the public to consider the long-term impact of littering: “Please reduce your use of plastic. If you bring food in plastic, do not leave the wrappers here. Even a single piece of plastic can end up in the ground. Leftover food attracts monkeys and cows, who may eat the plastic along with it. Consider the harm caused to these animals in a place you have come to seek merit.”
The drive stood as a testament to the power of collaboration between corporate, NGO, and government partners, showcasing their united commitment to sustainable waste management and the protection of ecologically sensitive, high-traffic spaces.
The drive was overseen by Shyam Kumar, Forest Range Officer, Mallikarjuna Rao from the Endowment Department; and Asif Siddiqui, Co-Founder of HyTiCoS, with support from departmental staff. Organizers noted this was the first engagement with Amazon under their employee program and represents an important step toward systematic, long-term waste management in the region.
