The Government of India (GoI), through its recently shared press releases, announced a 75-day Coastal Clean-Up campaign across several coasts in the country. The program was flagged off successfully on July 5, 2022, with an aim to make the coasts clean of garbage. Sharing an update, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Monday, July 26, 2022, mentioned that over 200 ton of garbage has been collected by the officials within the first 20 days of the program.
Furthermore, he added that most of the garbage included single use plastic and the team has successfully removed the same from the sea coasts. This feat has been achieved as a part of the first 20 days of the ongoing 75-day campaign. Information regarding the same was shared during the review meeting of the campaign, whereby officials also expressed the satisfaction that over 5200 volunteers showed their support for the campaign.
Participation has been received from 24 States and the volunteers aim to raise awareness about “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar." The collective efforts of the campaign over the 75 days will be celebrated and appreciated on "International Coastal Clean-up Day" which is marked on September 17, 2022. Meanwhile, the officials also aim to seek support from NGOs, citizen groups, children and youth forums, corporates, non-profit organisations, consular staff and Municipal Corporations.
Dr. Singh further added that collective participation will be put to achieve the target of removing over 1,500 tonnes of garbage, mainly single use plastic from the sea coasts across India. Furthermore, this will also be special as the "International Coastal Clean-up Day, i.e., the September 17, 2022, also marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi' birthday, which in India is celebrated as “Sewa Divas.”
Appeal has been made for the groups to join the massive clean-up drive on this day which will be carried out at 75 beaches across the country with 75 volunteers for every kilometre of the coastline. Additional suggestions from the Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from coastal states to make it a mass campaign. Present at this meeting were Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, ParshottamRupala, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, L. MuruganMoS and MPs from large number of coastal States.
Moreover, the Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) President Anant Singhania, on Saturday, July 23, 2022 met Dr Singh and extended support for Mumbai sea beach cleaning as a part of the 75-day Coastal Clean-Up campaign. He added that they will also mobilise their resources for the rejuvenation and beautification of Queen's Necklace, i.e., Marine Drive Beach
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M. Ravichandra informed that the coastal clean-up campaign so far has been carried out successfully in parts of West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Activities like campaign pledge, Nukkad Natak, Cycle Rally for Plastic se Azadi, Beach cleaning and Plantation, Sensitization of local communities were also planned.
Share
Tweet
