The Hindu 20.09.2009
Coast Guard clears waste from beaches
Madurai Bureau
| A large number of students participate |
—Photo: N. Rajesh 
CLEAN DRIVE: Volunteers clearing waste from new port beach in Tuticorin on Saturday.
Tuticorin: Coast Guard personnel here launched a beach cleaning campaign to highlight the importance of “clean coast and clean sea” on the occasion of International Coastal Clean up Day on Saturday.
Personnel from various organisations such as the marine police, municipal corporation, naval and army wing of NCC cadets from various schools and colleges participated in the cleaning drive.
Many volunteers
A large number of students from Tuticorin Port Trust School, St. Mary’s College, Kamaraj College, Dr. Sivanthi Aditanar College, Tiruchendur, VOC College, Vikasa School, Fisheries Department, TPT, Central Industrial Security Force, GoMBRT, BSNL Tuticorin and others cleaned the beach near the administrative building of Port Guest House.
Speaking to The Hindu, Commandant Udhal Singh, Indian Coast Guard Station, Tuticorin, who flagged off the drive, said that the volunteers picked up waste and non bio degradable materials along the coast which motivated the local populace about the necessity for a clean and litter free environment.
He said that people must desist from dropping litter on the beach to protect the environment from pollution.
Around 400 volunteers participated in the clean campaign.
Ramanathapuram
Around 400 persons from the Coast Guard, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, Forest, Fisheries, Eco Development Committees and others took part in a similar exercise at Rameswaram.
The campaign was inaugurated at Agnitheerthakadarkarai by Commandant D.S. Saini, Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Station, Mandapam. K. Balasubramanian, District Revenue Officer, flagged off the operation at Ariyaman beach near Ucipuli. Commandants A.K. Mudgal, Venu Madhav, Tamta Y. Dutta and others participated.
They cleared all types of waste, including cloths, plastic bags and cups and other non degradable items from the beaches.
Mr. Saini said that more than 2,000 kg of waste materials were removed from the beaches.
A similar campaign was carried out in Chennai also.
