New Delhi (NVI): Taking a cue from the famous plogging done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mamallapuram beach during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit recently, the government today launched a maiden national mass drive to clean the country’s 50 identified beaches.
The week-long intensive cleanliness drive “Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan,” that will continue till November 17 in all the 10 identified coastal states and Union Territories, aims to clean the country’s beaches along with spreading awareness about the importance of coastal ecosystems among the citizens.
Organised by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in coordination with respective State Nodal Agencies, the drive includes two hours long beach cleaning activities on a daily basis. The ministry has also deployed beach sand cleaning machines at about identified 15 beaches. Thereafter, collected waste will be processed as per extant of Waste Management Rules, 2016, an official statement said.
The Environment Education Division of the Ministry and Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the aegis of this Ministry will be coordinating overall drives in 50 beaches.
The Ministry has also decided to give awards to the best three beaches along with a Certificate of Appreciation for all the participating Eco-clubs on completion of the drive.
The ministry has also deputed officials to monitor the implementation of the drive. Nodal teachers from the eco-clubs will also monitor sites during the entire cleanliness drive.
The school and colleges students of eco-clubs, district administration, institutions, volunteers, local communities and other stakeholders, as well as respective state governments and central ministries, will be actively participating in the beach cleaning drives.
–ps
