Kerala - Kochi   

Coastal Clean-up Day observed

Staff Reporter

3,500 volunteers from various walks of life join hands with the Navy

GLOBAL EVENT: Personnel of the Southern Naval Command and the Coast Guard engage in the clean-up drive in the city on Saturday. - Photo: Vipin Chandran

KOCHI: The International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day was observed by the Indian Navy on Saturday. This annual activity is aimed at bringing about awareness among the public on the degradation of the marine environment and to encourage them to take conscious steps to prevent environmental pollution and to save marine life.

This is a global event with the participation of thousands of people spread over 123 countries. The Southern Naval Command's efforts to observe the Coastal Clean-up Day paid dividends when over 3,500 volunteers from various walks of life joined hands with the Navy to cleanup the Fort Kochi beach, Marine Drive, Thevara waterfront and the Willingdon Island. Prior to the event, the Navy undertook a public awareness campaign in schools and colleges. The clean-up operations commenced at 8 a.m. and went on till about 12 noon.

On the Fort Kochi beach, students of Kendriya Vidyalaya (Dronacharya), Global Public School, and Gujarati School, (Mattanchery), members of the HRD Organization, senior citizens, members of the Walkers Club, Prakriti Club of Navy Wives' Welfare Association and some foreigners lent a helping hand to the Naval personnel of INS Dronacharya. Personnel from the Coast Guard station at Fort Kochi also joined them.

Personnel from INS Venduruthy along with students from Navy Children's School undertook cleaning of the Willingdon Island and Thevara waterfront. At the Marine Drive, besides Navy personnel from INS Garuda, students from St. Teresa's College, Maharaja's College, Rajagiri Public School, NCC cadets and NSS volunteers, participated in this activity.

Truckloads of garbage

Over 15 truckloads of garbage were cleared with assistance from the Cochin Corporation.

As part of the clean-up drive, participants filled up data cards indicating the type and amount of debris collected, the number of volunteers involved and coastal area covered, for analysis by the Ocean Conservancy Forum and to derive scientific means to prevent the destruction of seacoasts.

The volunteers were provided with gloves, bags and water. INS Dronacharya, under Captain Anand Balakrishnan and his team, coordinated the work.

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