INDIAN COAST GUARD CONDUCTS MASSIVE BEACH CLEANING DRIVE AT MARINA AND ELLIOTS BEACHES IN CHENNAI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
DEFENCE WING
CHENNAI
CHIEF OF COAST GUARD EASTERN REGION STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING MARINE ECOSYSTEM
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY OBSERVED
Chennai, 21 September 2024
Indian Coast Guard organized a massive coastal cleanup drive along the iconic Marina and Elliots beaches in Chennai today, coinciding with the International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Inspector General of the Coast Guard Region (East) Mr Donny Michael flagged off the cleanup drive at the Marina Beach this morning. He said preserving the marine ecosystem is imperative for the overall wellbeing of all the living beings. He stressed upon the importance of awareness on preventing plastics from reaching the sea as the marine ecosystem plays a vital role in the human food cycle.
The chief of the Eastern region of the Coast Guard expressed great satisfaction over the efforts of the volunteers to clear the debris at the beaches and appreciated the support extended by the State, Central and non-government agencies and educational institutions. He said that the Indian Coast Guard remains committed to the preservation of marine environment as part of the basic Charter of Duties entrusted by the Government of India.
Mr Donny Michael assured that all the shore stations, units, ships and establishments of the Indian Coast Guard in the Eastern Region shall continue to engage and encourage the public in general and the coastal fishing community in particular to contribute towards preserving the coastlines.
In the Coastal Cleanup Drive, around 900 volunteers from twenty different schools and colleges, corporate and industrial houses and central and state government agencies participated despite the morning showers, resulting in the collection of about 450 kg wastes including plastics from the iconic beaches. The collected waste were documented by the ICG officials for further analysis so that preventive strategies can be evolved from the data to ensure ingress of minimum waste into oceans in future.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, the Port Trust of Chennai, Central Industrial Security Force CISF, the Tamil Nadu Police, NCC, NSS, industrial houses including the Enfield, NGOs such as the Tree foundation and Born To Win Research Foundation were among those who participated in the event.
International Coast Guard day is being celebrated on the third Saturday of September every year to create awareness about preservation of the oceans and waterways and prevent damage to ecology and environment. With growing population and commercial activity along the coastline, it is reported that the oceans have become a dumping ground for all types of wastes including plastics. Scientists say, plastics after reaching water bodies do not decompose quickly but only disintegrate into smaller particles that infiltrate into the marine ecology, affecting humans by entering into the food cycle.
As the nodal agency for the coordination of response to any marine pollution, the Indian Coast Guard also actively engages with other government and private stake-holders to ensure conservation and protection of marine environment.
Apart from Chennai, similar coastal cleanup drives were also organized by Coast Guard units based at Tuticorin, Mandapam in TN, Puducherry and Karaikal as well as Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, under the aegis of the Headquarters, Coast Guard Region East, Chennai.
