Port Blair, Sep 12: On completion of 75 years of Independence of India, the people of A&N Islands are celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with the rest of the nation and during this, the biggest ever campaign of 75 days has been launched by the Government of India for the cleanness of our coastal areas and surrounding seas.
The campaign was launched by State Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Earth Science on 03rd July 2022, which was the International Day for No Plastic Bags and it will be concluded on 17th September 2022, which is the International Day for Coastal Clean-up.
The 60% to 80% of Oxygen comes from oceans, and an equal amount of Carbon dioxide is absorbed making the air and atmosphere liveable. Oceans are the main source of Rains on earth without which we can’t survive as agriculture and availability of potable fresh water are mainly dependable on Rains. Apart from this, the oceans regulate the global temperature by absorbing the heat reaching the earth in form of sun rays. Millions of fishermen and communities residing in coastal areas are dependent on seas. A large population gets employment in the tourism sector for which marine biodiversity is the main resource. As such oceans/seas are vital for the life support system.
It is a matter of pride that 10 beaches have been identified by GoI for these Islands but apart from the designated Govt. Agencies and Organizations people of A&N Island ranging from North to South are wholeheartedly involved in coastal cleaning drives on many other beaches throughout the length and breadth of the A&N Islands.
It is brought to the notice of one and all that another important aspect of this coastal clean-up drive is to categorize and quantify the waste removed from each area. The data on the same is being collected by the concerned Ministry. It is requested that information on the waste removed may be sent to the mobile no in a simple format given.
1. Name of Person; 2. Name of Beach; 3. District; 4. No.of persons involved in cleaning drive; 5. Name of NGOs, Agencies involved; 6. Weight of Plastic removed and 7. Weight of other waste materials removed.
Information in the same format may be forwarded for cleaning drives taken up earlier and photos/videos may also be uploaded.
The information can also be sent by downloading Eco Mitram App and registering in the app even on an individual basis.
Contact No. 9933217884.
It is requested that people should go to the nearby coastal areas with family and friends, Clean the coasts and be a part of the longest-ever campaign on coastal clean-up on 17th September, feeding the information to National Data Bank.
It is time to take a pledge to keep our environment pollution-free and oceans seas and coastal areas plastic free for our own survival. It is time to invest in the protection of the environment for our own survival.
