Mangaluru: To celebrate the World Environment Day in a meaningful manner, the district administration has decided to launch a drive to clean beaches in Udupi district with the slogan, “I am saving my beach”, from June 2 to 5.

This was decided at a preparatory meeting chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner G. Anuradha at the District Offices Complex here on Friday.

The beaches to be cleaned during this drive are those at Padubidri, Kaup, Malpe and Trasi-Marvathe in the district.

The meeting also decided to involve students and local people in the cleanliness drive.

Accordingly, the drive would be launched with the cleaning of beach at Padubidri at 7 a.m. on June 2.

Plastic and other material on the beach would be cleaned.

Information would be provided on how cleanliness on the beaches helped in protection of seas to the people and student on the occasion.

Entertainment programmes too would be held.

“The Beach Management Committees should give adequate publicity to the cleanliness drive and encourage the people to participate in it,” Ms. Anuradha said.

The district had already taken the initiative in management of solid and liquid waste. The help of volunteers involved in solid and liquid resource management and the Zilla Panchayat should be taken, she said.

Laxmikanth, State Pollution Control Board officer, said that nearly 600 students would participate in a jatha at Trasi on June 5. An awareness programme with experts as resource persons would be held at Trasi, he said.

Anitha B.R., Assistant Director of Tourism, assured the meeting of full cooperation from her department in World Environment Day celebrations.

J.C. Janardhan, Udupi City Municipal Council Commissioner, Sachin, officer of Nirmiti Kendra, and others were present.