The Hindu 27.09.2010
Nine tonnes of garbage removed from Ramanathapuram beaches
Special Correspondent
RAMANATHAPURAM: Commandant D.S. Saini, Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Station, Mandapam, said that about nine tonnes of marine litter was cleared in the Coastal Cleanup Day, which was spearheaded by the Coast Guard at Agnitheertham shore in Rameswaram and other coastal areas.
He said that the beaches of Ariyaman near Uchipuli and sea shore area near Coast Guard Mandapam premises were also cleared as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day on Sunday. A four-km stretch of beaches had become clean and neat after the drive.
Terming the drive a success, he said that more than 1,000 volunteers and other agencies were involved in the massive operation. The marine litter consisted of cloth, fishing lines, waste nets, bottles, food wrappers, ropes, syringes, plastic bags, sheets, medicine waste among others. The collected garbage was disposed to a municipality dump yard.
During the event, a Coast Guard Hovercraft was involved in collecting floating marine debris on the sea off Rameswaram.
The objective was not only to clean the shores but also to prevent pollution with focus on educating the people and making them aware of the need to keep the beaches always environment- friendly.
