Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 20: More than 2,100 volunteers joined an International Coastal Cleanup Day drive across five locations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, removing about 1,792 kg of marine waste and 1,070 kg of plastic garbage from beaches.
The Indian Coast Guard Region (A&N), under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, conducted the cleanup on September 19 at beaches in Diglipur, Mayabunder, Sri Vijaya Puram, Kamorta and Campbell Bay as part of efforts to protect the Islands’ marine environment and encourage wider community participation in coastal conservation.
The campaign drew 2,165 volunteers, including school and college students, NCC cadets, personnel from the Andaman and Nicobar Police, officials from the Forest Department and members of the State Administration.
The participation of students and NCC cadets formed a significant part of the campaign, with the organisers emphasising the role of awareness and responsible habits in encouraging younger citizens to contribute to the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems.
The cleanup was aligned with the national “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign, which promotes citizen participation in improving ocean health.
The Coast Guard said such initiatives seek to encourage participants to carry environmental responsibility beyond individual cleanup activities and promote awareness within families, educational institutions and local communities.
The involvement of students, government departments, uniformed personnel and other community members across multiple locations reflected a coordinated approach to coastal cleanliness and conservation.
The waste collected during the September 19 exercise included approximately 1,792 kg of marine garbage and 1,070 kg of plastic waste. The cleanup covered beaches in both the Andaman and Nicobar groups, bringing together participants from different sections of the community.
The initiative also sought to reinforce awareness that maintaining coastal cleanliness requires sustained responsible practices alongside organised cleanup activities. By involving young people and public agencies, the campaign placed community participation at the centre of efforts to protect the Islands’ coastal and marine environment.
