PANAJI
The Indian Coast Guard will lead a large-scale beach cleanup drive across 25 beaches in Goa on Saturday as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Day observance. The campaign will be organised in association with Lions Clubs and NGO Vibrant Goa.
The drive will begin at 6.30 am at Miramar beach and continue until 9.30 am, Coast Guard Goa District Commander Manoj Bhatia told a press conference in Panaji on Thursday. Ajay Gramopadhye and Sudesh Borkar were also present. Bhatia said the Coast Guard has been organising the annual initiative for the past two decades. The campaign coincides with International Coastal Cleanup Day, which is observed globally on the third Saturday of September every year.
Highlighting Goa’s dependence on beach tourism, Bhatia said clean beaches are vital to sustaining tourist inflow and protecting the state’s tourism-driven economy. He stressed that keeping beaches clean is a shared responsibility of residents and tourists.
Apart from collecting litter, the campaign aims to raise awareness about environmental conservation and responsible waste disposal. Citizens have been urged to participate in the drive at their nearest beach.
The cleanup will be held at several popular beaches, including Palolem, Carmona, Varca, Benaulim, Colva, Majorda, Utorda, Velsao, Bogmalo, Baina, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Morjim and Arambol, among others.
Gramopadhye said schools, colleges, hospitality establishments and industrial units will also join the campaign. He said around 3,000 of the 7,000 volunteers who participated in the nationwide campaign last year were from Goa.
He said the organisers hope to surpass that figure this year, with 46 Lions Clubs from Goa and seven more from Karwar and Murudeshwar expected to take part.
