PANAJI: The 75-day long Coastal Clean-Up Campaign culminated with grand participation from all stakeholders. In Goa, in a unique initiative Coastal Clean-Up Campaign was observed on all 35 beaches. Governor P.S Sreedharan Pillai; Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Naik; Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant graced the occasion at the main programme held at Miramar Beach on Saturday.
The Governor in his address said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is achieving new milestones as far as cleanliness drive is concerned. After the success of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ now we have to focus on the cleanliness of our oceans. The ‘Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar’ campaign was launched, taking into consideration our future generations. The Governor reiterated that Seas and Seashores need to be protected.
Union Minister Shripad Naik on this occasion stressed on the importance of cleanliness. He said that cleanliness should become a habit. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, we all have realised the importance of cleanliness. Since Goa is a favourite destination of tourists because of the beaches, we have to maintain neat and clean beaches, he added.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said, Goa’s economy is dependent on ‘Sun, Sand and Sea’. To promote the Blue Economy Goans have to work consistently to ensure the cleanliness of seashores. The 104 KM long coast of Goa is a major attraction for tourists. Chief Minister Sawant said cleanliness of this long shore has to be maintained for the establishment of the state as a tourism capital. The blue economy and clean natural surroundings have to be passed on to the future generations, said the CM.
Departments from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indian Coast Guard, 1Goa NCC Battalion, India Tourism, Goa Tourism and state government departments, schools and colleges participated in the mega cleanliness drive.
The “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar/Clean Coast, Safe Sea “campaign – a 75-day citizen-led campaign for improving ocean health through collective action – had started on July 5th, 2022 and has 3 strategic underlying goals that target transformation and environmental conservation through behaviour change. The three underlying goals of the campaign are to 1. Consume Responsibly 2. Segregate waste at home and 3. Dispose Responsibly.
It was the first-of-its-kind and longest running coastal cleanup campaign in the world with the highest number of people participating in it. A mobile app “Eco Mitram” has been launched to spread awareness about the campaign and also for the common people for voluntary registration for the beach cleaning activity.
