The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) annually organizes the "Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar" event, a nationwide coastal clean-up initiative to protect and preserve India’s marine ecosystems. As part of International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day, this event mobilizes thousands of volunteers nationwide to participate in beach cleaning activities, spreading awareness about the detrimental effects of marine pollution, particularly plastics. This year, the PAN India coastal clean-up event was organized at 80 beaches across the country, including 12 beaches in Tamil Nadu.
The National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), under the MoES, successfully conducted a beach clean-up event at Thiruvanmiyur Beach, Chennai. Over 120 volunteers, including NCCR scientists, representatives from the East Coast Beach Walkers Association (ECBWA), students of Presidency College-Chennai, and local community members, actively participated in the event. The collective efforts removed over 90 kilograms of waste from the beach over an area of 6000 Sq.m.
The occasion was graced by esteemed guests, including Dr M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and H.E. Ms May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Both dignitaries emphasized the importance of community engagement and international cooperation in tackling marine pollution and preserving our natural heritage. Dr. M.V. Ramana Murthy, Director of NCCR, commended the efforts of the volunteers and highlighted the role of public participation in achieving sustainable coastal management.
The ICC 2024 edition, themed “#SeaTheChange,” focuses on raising awareness and inspiring community action to conserve our coastal and marine ecosystems. To encourage one such action, the event also featured a special recognition for the ECBWA, honouring their consistent contribution to community-driven beach cleanliness efforts over the years.
The Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar initiative contributes to the physical cleaning of beaches. It educates the public on reducing plastic use, promoting recycling, and adopting eco-friendly habits to minimize human impact on our oceans. To realize this objective, the clean-up activities were followed by an awareness rally, where participants showcased placards and banners promoting ocean conservation. The event concluded with distributing dustbins to ECBWA as part of the NCCR’s ongoing support for community-based waste management initiatives.
Participants and the general public are encouraged to continue sharing their clean-up stories and promote sustainable practices using the hashtag #SeaTheChange on social media. NCCR remains committed to fostering a cleaner, healthier coastal environment through research, education, and community engagement.