PANAJI: Drishti Marine which has completed one year as an "ad-hoc" beach cleanliness agency has claimed it has collected 10.72-lakh kilograms of garbage over the last one year along the beaches which it is manning.
It's been a year since Drishti Marine was roped in by the state government in an effort to improve the cleanliness of Goa's beaches. Since then the agency has mobilized manpower and equipment for clearing garbage from the beaches of Goa which is then transported to the Saligao Waste Management plant.
"Between December 17, 2016, and December 17, 2017, the agency has collected and transported 10,72,230 kgs of garbage from along the state's coast and cleaned the beaches," the agency said in a statement released to the media.
Drishti Marine has ramped up the beach cleaning facilities keeping in mind the New Year celebrations which are around the corner.
"Goa is one of the most preferred destinations for New Year celebrations. The beaches attract thousands of party revellers each year. That also leads to an increase in garbage. With this in mind, we have deployed additional resources at the popular beaches - Baga, Calangute, Candolim and Colva. Teams will work round-the-clock to ensure the beaches are kept free of garbage and to ensure that collection from shacks is done within the stipulated time," Ravi Shankar, CEO, Drishti Marine has said.
Around this time last year, the state government had reached out to Drishti Marine to step in and assist with garbage collection along the beaches on a temporary basis to support the effort of the government. The agency has an existing framework which includes infrastructure and management capability to effectively carry out the exercise along the beaches. Presently, Drishti Marine have employed approximately 322 manpower on a daily basis to clear the garbage from the beaches.
Drishti Marine has also implemented a unique public awareness campaign #TeraMeraBeach. Aimed at visitors to Goa especially domestic visitors, #TeraMeraBeach is a 150-day beach awareness campaign to a cleaner Goa which was rolled out mid-November. The campaign involves daily drum circles held between 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm every day and a community art installation. The innovative campaign is presently run at Baga and will eventually spread across Baga, Calangute and Miramar beaches.
Garbage is being collected from the beaches of Baina, Bogmallo, Velsao, Hollant, Arossim, Majorda, Utorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Zalor, Cavelossim, Mobor, Agonda, Palolem, Patnem, Rajbagh, Talpona, Galgibaga and Polem in the South while Querim, Arambol, Ashvem, Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Miramar, Vainguinim, Dona Paula, Siridao and Bambolim in the North.
The collection of the garbage takes place during the day between 9am to 6pm. Workers are given gloves, masks and safety jackets as a part of the process laid down by the company.
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CLEAN SWEEP BY
DRISHTI MARINE
* Between December 17, 2016 and December 17, 2017, the agency has collected and transported 10,72,230 kgs of garbage from along the state's coast and cleaned the beaches
* Drishti Marine has ramped up the beach cleaning facilities keeping in mind the New Year celebrations which are around the corner
* Presently, Drishti Marine has employed approximately 322 manpower on a daily basis to clear the garbage from the beaches
