Anyone who walks on the Puducherry beach may ask whether any worthwhile cause is served by celebrating the International Cleanup Day as long as hawkers roam the Promenade.
A ready response came from the Local Administration Department on Saturday, when Minister N.G. Pannir Selvam declared that all hawkers would be cleared from the place within 20 days.
The Minister was standing, along with top officials, on the beach to participate in the clean-up programme. He told The Hindu: “We will remove the shops near Gandhi Statue. The hawkers have been allotted an alternative site. Even the Madras High Court has passed an order to beautify the beach. We are keeping a sufficient number of dustbins on the beach and conservancy workers are cleaning it thrice a day.”
P.T. Rudra Goud, Director of Local Administration, said that an awareness campaign would be conducted for the beach users.
The beaches of Puducherry are attracting domestic and foreign tourists. However, they are littered with non-biodegradable wastes such as plastics and disposable materials, discarded by hawkers selling eatables. The non-biodegradable wastes are posing a threat to the marine life and polluting the sea. With a view to stopping the deterioration of the coastal belt and creating awareness among the people of a trash-free marine environment, the Coast Guard Headquarters has been tasked with organising the International Coastal Cleanup Day, along with the Departments of Local Administration and Science and Technology.
The event was flagged off by Welfare Minister P. Rajavelu and Mr. Pannir Selvam near the Gandhi Statue. Students from various schools and colleges, members of non-governmental organisations, NCC cadets, NSS volunteers and government employees participated.
N. Somasundaram, Commandant, Coast Guard, Puducherry, said: “More than 1,000 students participated in the programme. This is also an opportunity for the fishermen to demonstrate their desire for a clean marine eco-system.”
The coastal cleanup was also undertaken simultaneously in Kanagachettikulam, Vaithikuppam, Vambakeerapalayam, Kalapet, Veerampatinam and Moorthikuppam. Several youth removed garbage found amid rocks.
S. Loganathan, a student of a private college, said: “Some time, I get angry seeing people littering the beach. They should be fined by the local authorities.”
K. Alamelu, another student, said merely conducting a clean-up programme is not enough. The authorities should come up with measures to prevent the beach-goers from littering the place.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy administered a cleanliness pledge to volunteers who gathered on the beach. Karaikal
The Coast Guard brought together volunteers from educational institutions, government and other agencies to clean the Karaikal beach on Saturday.
Nearly 250 people, including NCC cadets of various schools, Chemplast Sanmar Limited, the Coast Guard, Fisheries, Port, Alert Commandos Services Ltd, and Marine Police participated in the drive.
Udhal Singh, Commandant, Coast Guard Station, Karaikal, said there was good support from the local administration and approximately two tonnes of waste was collected and handed over to the municipal administration for disposal.