New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS): Benarasi Warriors, Green Guardians of Gandhinagar, Navi Mumbai ECO Knights, Ara Yoddhas, Barbati Bacons, Chandigarh Challengers, Incredible Swachh Indoris are not sports teams but groups of enthusiastic youths who have formed teams to participate in the Indian Swachhata League (ISL).
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Urban Affairs, the ISL was launched by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on September 9 and till date, more than 18,000 cities with Million plus citizens have registered for the programme to keep their cities garbage free.
The top three states with maximum participation based on percentage of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) participating in the league are Odisha-100 per cent, Assam- 99 per cent and Chhattisgarh - 97 per cent.
The unique competition led by youth will see some noted celebrities like cricketer Venkatesh Iyer supporting Incredible Indoris, noted singer and Padma awardee Shankar Mahadevan singing for Navi Mumbai ECO Knights, MP and actress Kirron Kher, Singer B Praak, Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra supporting Chandigrah Challengers to rally for clean beaches, hills and tourist spots.
Local political representatives and VIPs, Ministers, MPs, MLA, Mayor, Councillors, Brand Ambassadors are also engaging in flagging off various activities and increasing mobilisation. Chandigarh Councillor Maheshinder Singh Sidhu, Tirupati Mayor B R Sirisha, Tirupati Commissioner Anupama Anjali, Tirupati MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, Indore Mayor, IMC Pushyamitra Bhargav have joined the league.
The city teams will be competing to clean locations near monuments, tourist attractions and beaches with a heavy footfall.
Many locations like Vishnupad, Sitakund, Akshaywati in Gaya, Tajganj in Agra, Nayaghat in Ayodhya, Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri, Lalbagh in Lucknow, Assi Ghat in Varanasi, Atal Bridge on Sabarmati river front, Gandhi Ashram, Sardar Patel Statue in Gandhinagar, Gomti river in Gujarat, Cuff Parade, Worli Fort, Juhu Patti in Greater Mumbai, Meghdoot Garden in Indore, Khandala Lake in Lonavla.