Panaji: Goa Tourism Department in association with the Union government on Saturday organised beach cleaning drives at 37 different coasts in the state.
State Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Chief minister Pramod Sawant, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and others participated in the clean up drive held across the state’s 37 beaches.
While the Goveror and Sawant were present at Miramar beach near here, Khaunte participated in the drive at famous Calangute beach in North Goa.
Addressing the function at Miramar beach, Sawant said that Goa’s economy is largely dependent on the beaches and blue economy.
He stressed the need to preserve the beaches for future generations. “We should also be able to preserve and pass on the benefits of blue economy to our future generations,” the chief minister said.
Sawant appealed locals and the tourists to keep beaches clean all around the year.
At Calangute, Khaunte said that the livelihood of the people in the coastal belt is dependent on the beaches.
The tourism minister said that around 90 lakh tourists visit the coastal state annually to usher in the sun, sand and sea.
“If we want to keep up our USP of Sun, Sand and Sea, we will have to ensure that our beaches are clean and safe,” he said.
Khaunte said that the clean shorelines are also important for the protection of ecology and for ensuring livelihood of “our brothers and sisters living in the coastline.”
He said that on the occasion of PM’s Birthday, the cleanliness drive along 37 beaches will be taken up by the state government led by chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
He said that such an event of beach cleanliness also passes a message that Goa is going in a right direction under the leadership of the chief minister.
