Mangaluru : Headquarters, Coast Guard District (Karnataka) under the aegis of South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) in South Asian Region planning co-ordinated Coastal Cleanup as part of ICC-2018 at the beaches of Panambur, Tannirbhavi, Surathkal, Sasihithlu, Malpe and Rabindranath Tagore beach, Karwar today on 15 Sep 2018.

ICC was started by the Ocean Conservancy in 1986 to engage volunteers in collecting marine debris. The ocean covers 71% of the Earth. The ocean helps produce the water we drink and the air we breathe. It absorbs carbon dioxide and lessens the effect of global warming. It also produces food and recreation opportunities for millions of people. Despite its importance, the ocean is still not fully explored or understood.

Coast Guard efforts of coastal clean-up derive was multiplied by joining the hands of Coastal Security Police, New Mangalore Port Trust, Central Industrial Security Force, Customs & Central Excise, School & College Students, NCC Cadets, NSS volunteers and enthusiastic volunteers from all walks of life in association of Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association New Mangalore.

Educational institutes like KMC, NITK Suratkal, MV Shetty College, Sridevi College, Municipal Schools and Kendriya Vidyalaya from Mangalore, Government PU College Kundapura and Malpe, Hinduja Global Solution LTD, NMPT High School, Fishery Primary School, Govt University College, Govinsha PU College were prominent participants in the event.

The event was supported by CSP, MRPL, KIOCL, ISPRL, IOCL, Adani, Nandini, Monginis, SBI, Tata, Pepsi Co, Corporation Bank, Vijaya Bank, BHPL, HPCL, DK Milk Union Ltd, Panambur Service Station, Max Life Insurance, Bubbly Mineral Water, Vishal Manpower And Securities, Global Marine Pvt Ltd, Spar, Gujrat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, Karnataka Bank, and Syndicate Bank, Hotel Moti Mahal, Ocean Pearl and Grasim Industries, Karwar.

The presence of the dignitaries and leaders brought the waves of enthusiasm and motivation amongst the volunteers. Mr. Lal Goel, Chairman of Organ Donation India Foundation, Dr Uma Maheshwar Rao, Director, NITK Suratkal, Mrs D’souza, Prof, Mahe Manipal were the dignitaries at Panambur. Mr Shivananda, Chief Executive Officer of Zila Panchayat and Mr Pashavanath, Dy Director Fisheries, Udupi were the prominent guest at Malpe. Dy Commissioner and Managing Director Grasim Industriesat Karwar led volunteers at Tagore beach.

The Commander, Coast Guard Karnataka, DIG SS Dasila, TM who was present at Panambur beach. During the cleanliness event, DIG Dasila stated “Trash in the ocean is widespread and can harm the health of the ocean and its marine life. One major source of trash in the ocean is garbage that washes off the beach and into the ocean, where it can choke or entangle marine life so let’s all Take a pledge to keep the ocean clean”.
All the participating personnel were provided with gash bags and protective gloves to undertake the beach and surroundings cleaning. The feeling of ecstasy and togetherness was evident in the team and comradeship was seen amongst various age groups, professions and organizations.

The participants removed the waste and non-bio degradable materials littered at beaches. The waste mainly consisted of wrappers of food articles and plastic bottles thrown by tourists. The collected waste materials were put in garbage bags for proper disposal. The cleanliness drive has created awareness amongst people and hope they continue to come forward to keep the coastal environment clean for the years to come.