International Coastal Cleanup Day observed by Indian Coast Guard

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Coast Guard has organized the International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) in all Coastal States and Union Territories of India under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Cooperative Program for the South Asia Environment (SACEP) in South Asia. Region. According to the Defense press release, around 300 volunteers from the Indian Coast Guard, Coast Police and Kerala Police participated in the coastal clean-up activity on Saturday September 18th. The event was conducted respecting all COVID protocols and avoiding mass gatherings with minimal staff participation, including two members of the Vizhinjam Coast Police, according to the press release.

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In Trivandrum, the station commander and Indian Coast Guard station staff Vizhinjam undertook the cleanup of Grove Beach in Kovalam. Likewise, the Indian Coast Guard District Headquarters (Mahe and Kochi) carried out a coastal clean-up campaign with the beaches of Fort Kochi and Cherai. Participants were highlighted on the need for cleaner beaches for a better marine environment, a litter-free environment and their impact on healthy life in general.

The ICC campaign resulted in the collection of 1,500 kg of marine litter. About two trucks of garbage and debris were collected by the participants during the journey and the same were transferred to the dump by the Kochi municipal company.

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According to the statement, the International Coastal Cleanup Day in Lakshadweep was coordinated by the Lakshadweep Coast Guard District in association with the Ministry of Forests and Environment, UT Lakshadweep in Kavaratti. Local people, schoolchildren, government officials, Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel actively participated in the Kavaratti “Beach Cleanup” program event. Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Anbarasu graced the occasion as the main guest and highlighted the importance of beach cleaning and its importance to the livelihoods of the Lakshadweep fellowship.

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In Kavaratti, children participating in the event displayed signs stressing the importance of keeping seas and beaches clean. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Dinakaran, Commander of Coast Guard District 12 and Damodar AT, IFS distributed certificates to schoolchildren for their active participation. In Minicoy and Androth, 2000 kg of plastic was collected from all plastic-free Minicoy-themed homes and beaches. The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) began over 30 years ago when communities came together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the litter lying around their coastlines.

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(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)

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