Two tonnes of waste collected in Indian Coast Guard clean-up drive on Elliots beach

Volunteers from various units of Coast Guard, government agencies, students from various schools, colleges, National Cadet Corps, NSS and NGOs participated in the clean-up drive.

The event was flagged off by Commander Coast Guard Region (East) Inspector General Rajan Bargotra who emphasized on keeping the coastal areas, especially the beaches, in a clean and hygienic condition. The non-biodegradable wastes collected were handed over to the municipal authorities for proper disposal.

The event was also used as an opportunity to create awareness on environmental protection and proper disposal of waste among the local populace and students. The data collected would help identify the types of debris commonly found at Chennai beaches and assist the government in formulating policies to reduce them.

A defence release said the man-made non-biodegradable wastes dumped in the sea cause catastrophic effect on the marine flora and fauna. To prevent dumping of waste into the ocean and to sensitize the coastal population regarding the conservation of the oceans, the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was started as part of UN Environmental Programme Initiative in 1986. Accordingly, the International Coastal Clean-up Day is celebrated worldwide during the third week of September every year.

Coastal clean-up in Rameswaram: International Coastal Clean-up day was also observed at Rameswaram and Thoothukudi. At Rameswaram, Ramanthapuram Collector, S Natarjan, inaugurated the event and involved in cleaning the coastal area that carried out at Agni Theertham area in Rameswaram.

The Collector along with the volunteers cleaned the beach for more than two hours. In the previous years the coastal clean-up work was taken up in beaches, but this year the Agni Theertham area was chosen as Madurai Bench of Madras High Court had issued strict warning to Ramanathapuram district administration on maintaining the area clean. Also, the Judges are expected to visit Agni Theertham on Sunday. The devotees at Agni Theertham were also advised not to litter in the sea.

According to coast guard 500 volunteers from Indian Coast Guard, Navy and school students cleaned the Agni Theertham beach for two kilometers stretch and removed 5 tonnes of debris from the sea.

Similar event was organised at Thoothukudi where Indian Coast Guard had organised the event. The beach present adjacent to VOC Port Trust was cleaned by the volunteers.