Indian Coast Guard Mobilises 1,000-Plus Volunteers for Kerala Beach Cleanup

The Indian Coast Guard on Saturday organised coastal cleanup drives across Kerala as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, with more than 1,000 volunteers joining the initiative at five beaches.

The drives were organised by the Indian Coast Guard District Headquarters (Keralam and Mahe) in coordination with various government agencies, educational institutions, private organisations and NGOs at Kovalam, Fort Kochi, Puthuvypeen, Kuzhuppilly and Kozhikode beaches.

At Kovalam, the Coast Guard Station Vizhinjam conducted the campaign in association with the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS). The cleanup at Fort Kochi was inaugurated by Kochi Mayor V K Minimol.

At Kuzhuppilly, former Indian volleyball captain and Arjuna awardee Tom Joseph attended the programme as chief guest, while Vypin MLA Tony Chammany inaugurated the drive at Puthuvypeen beach. Kozhikode Mayor O Sadasivan flagged off the campaign at Kozhikode beach, organised by the Coast Guard Station Beypore.

Representatives of state and central government departments, educational institutions, IOCL, DP World, Bisleri, NGOs and Kerala Police participated along with Coast Guard personnel and their families.

The events were also attended by Fort Kochi MLA Mohammed Shiyas, T Kabilan of Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Navy representatives, Dr R S Maheshkumar of the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), ACP Mattanchery Ajith Kumar and Fort Kochi councillor Shiny Mathew, among others.

The Coast Guard said the drives were conducted under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) and the CMLRE under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The coordinated efforts resulted in the collection of around 3,000 kg of plastic waste and marine debris. The collected waste was handed over to the respective state authorities for safe disposal, the Defence Spokesperson said.