Port Blair, Aug 14: The Ministry of Earth Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) has implemented the Coastal Cleanliness Campaign “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast Safe Sea” from 05th July 2022 which will culminate on 17th September 2022.

Marine pollution in recent times has caught the attention of environmentalist and policy makers across the globe and the main reasons for marine pollution is litter especially in the form of plastics discharged from the land based sources along the coastline which have shown their harmful impact on marine biodiversity, ecosystems, fisheries, human health and economy.

Considering the catastrophic impact of such pollution and taking forward the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and his constant emphasis on cleanliness across the nation including the coastal regions a coastal cleanup was jointly conducted by Rotary Clubs of Port Blair, Port Blair NextGen & Avians Club as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The members of Rotary Club, Port Blair, Next Gen and Avians Club participated in this cleanup project. The trash was collected from opposite Hornbill Nest Coastal area and Corbyn's Cove area.

Shri Suneel Anchipaka, IAS Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman too joined the cleanliness drive along with members of Rotary club near Hornbill nest area. Around 26 garbage bags of trash was collected and handed over to the Port Blair Municipal Council for safe disposal.

The Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman informed that the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast Safe Sea is a 75 day citizen-led campaign which is first of its kind and longest running coastal cleanup campaign in the world with highest number of people participating in it for improving ocean health through collective action carried out by volunteers and has three (3) strategic underlying goals that target transformation and environmental conservation through behavioral change. The three underlying goals are to

  1. Consume Responsibly
  2. Segregate waste at home and
  3. Dispose Responsibly.

In the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands 10 (Ten) beaches have been identified by the Ministry for the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast Safe Sea Campaign.

1) Diglipur -Kalipur Beach

2) Mayabunder - Karmatang Beach

3) Rangat -Raman Bagicha Beach

4) Port Blair -Corbyn’s Cove Beach

5) Swaraj Dweep -Radhanagar Beach

6) Hutbay - Chattan Beach

7) Kamorta -Kanaka Beach

8) Campbell Bay - Gandhi Nagar Beach

9) Carnic - Malacca Beach

10) Teressa -Kalasi Beach

A mobile app “Eco Mitram” has also been launched to spread awareness about the campaign and also for common people for voluntary registration for the beach cleaning activity on 17th September 2022 which aims at mass behavioral change among the masses with the intension of raising awareness about how untreated wastages, especially plastics discharged along the coast line is destroying the marine lives.