THE INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY AN INITIATIVE OF UNITED NATION ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) WAS COORDINATED AND CONDUCTED BY INDIAN COAST GUARD IN THE STATE OF GOA ON 21 SEP 19. THIS EVENT WHICH IS WORLD’S LARGEST ONE DAY VOLUNTARY EFFORT TO CLEAN THE SEA BEACHES IS HELD ON THE THIRD SATURDAY OF SEPTEMBER EVERY YEAR. THE EVENT WAS CONDUCTED CONCURRENTLY IN THE VARIOUS BEACHES IN NORTH AND SOUTH GOA WHEREIN COAST GUARD PERSONNEL, SCHOOL CHILDREN, HOTELS, VILLAGE PANCHAYATS AND ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS JOINED HANDS FOR CLEANING THE BEACHES. THE INDIAN COAST GUARD HAS BEEN COORDINATING THE ACTIVITY IN INDIA SINCE 2006. LAST YEAR A TOTAL OF 71220 KGS OF MARITIME LITTER WAS COLLECTED NATION WIDE. WHEREIN 22000 VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATED.
THE MOTTO OF THE EVENT WAS “CLEAN AND PRISTINE BEACHES”. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME WAS PROVIDING IMPETUS TO THE GOVT’S PROGRAMME “SWACHCHH BHARAT ABHIYAAN” HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL FOR MASS CLEANLINESS THROUGH “SWACHATA HI SEVA”. THE EVENT ALSO AIMED TO SPREAD AWARENESS AMONGST THE PUBLIC SPECIALLY THE YOUNGER GENERATION ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF THE COASTAL CLEANUPAND THE IMPACT OF COASTAL POLLUTION.
THE MAIN EVENT WAS HELD AT BENAULIM BEACH WHEREIN SHRI AJIT ROY, IAS, COLLECTOR SOUTH GOA FLAGGED THE CLEANLINESS DRIVE. DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL HIMANSHU NAUTIYAL, DIG COAST GUARD GOA WAS ALSO PRESENTON THE OCCASION. THE CHIEF GUEST COMPLEMENTED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED FOR THIS NOBLE CAUSE. HE SAID THE EVENT WILL IMPROVE AND MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO KEEP OUR BEACHES CLEAN, MORE SO GOA IS ONE OF THE MOST COVETED TOURIST DESTINATION ON THE MAP OF INDIA. HE ALSO THANKED COAST GUARD FOR COORDINATING THE EVENT. DIG NAUTIYAL THANKED ALL THE SCHOOLS, HOTELS, PERSONNEL AND ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED TOWARDS A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
THE BEACH CLEANSHIP WAS ALSO HELD AT BOGMALLO, CANSAULIM, SINQUERIM, VAINGUINIM AND VERCA BEACHES. STUDENTS FROM HOLY TRINITY HIGHR SECONDARY SCHOOL, VIDYA VIKAS ACADEMY, ST THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL, INFANT JESUS ACADEMY, THE ARDEE SCHOOL AND DELTIN INSTITUTE EAGERLY PARTICIPATED. THE EVENT WAS WELL SUPPORTED BY HOTELS M/S DELTIN, HERITAGE VILLAGE HOTEL, TAJ EXOTICA VERCA BEACH, HOTEL CIDADE DE GOA, TAJ AGUADA, BOGMALLO BEACH RESORT, OYO HOTEL, VERNER DA COSTA FRIAS HOTEL, FORTUNE ACRON REGINA HOTEL, SANTANA BEACH RESORT, O HOTEL ANDJOHNCY RESTAURANT.
