World’s biggest beach clean-up drive at Puri

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to organise the world’s biggest beach clean-up drive at Puri beach on September 21.

It will be organised under ‘Mo Beach’ initiative with the participation of over 7,000 volunteers on Puri beach on September 21.

The International Coastal Cleanup Day is celebrated each year on 3rd Saturday of September. On September 21, this year it coincides with World Peace Day.

The District Administration of Puri is organizing a massive coastal cleanup drive on this day.

It will be the largest coastal cleanup initiative anywhere in the world; spread across more than hundred locations in the district and involving the participation of over 7,000 volunteers, said an official.

Along with the District Administration, this campaign is being financed and mentored by ICZMP under Odisha Forest and Environment department, Tourist Department, Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Odisha Pollution Control Board (OPCB) and The Bharat Scouts and Guides.

Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Patnaik is the ambassador of the world’s biggest beach clean-up drive at Puri.

The two-hour-long cleanup campaign will start at 6 A.M. with thousands of volunteers ‘Signature on Sand’ and taking an oath to protect our beaches and oceans by Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of waste especially plastic waste.

All necessary precautions ranging from security and crowd management to drinking water and fire safety has been carefully planned by the district administration, the official said.

The volunteers shall be provided with hand-gloves and caps to ensure hygiene and safety. Scientific studies have strongly linked marine pollution having an adverse impact on climate change which in turn creates atmospheric conditions prone to severe cyclones.

Recent research published in the reputed journal Nature points out that the analysis of the intensity of coastal cyclones between 1979 and 2010 suggests that thick layers of haze created by human-induced marine pollution has created atmospheric conditions that intensify cyclones and increase the chances they will reach land.

While tying into the Sustainable Development Goals this initiative is an example of the spirit of the populace of Puri, coming back strongly in the face of a major natural disaster at the same time leading the world in the campaign for coastal cleanup.

True to the diversity and inclusiveness that characterizes Puri, the campaign shall witness the participation of varied segments in the world’s biggest beach clean-up drive.

PRIs, SHG members, fishermen community, beachside vendors, hotel owners and their employees, photographers, lifeguards, tourist guides, Sebayat community of Shri Jagannath Temple, government officials, religious organizations, students from schools and colleges, skill trainees and other sections of the society will participate in the beach clean-up drive.