Most people in Neendakara were sceptical when the Coastal police launched Suchitwa Theeram Surakshita Theeram project, a cleanliness drive to wipe out plastic waste. Now, over six months into the project, the department has set new standards in sanitation and is taking the initiative to other coastal areas.
“Every year tonnes of plastic waste wash up on coastlines resulting in a volley of environmental and health issues. We started the project in 2017 with the help of NSS volunteers from nearby educational institutions. Later, trade unions and various associations in the harbour joined, making it more of a mass movement,” says D. Sreekumar, senior civil police officer who coordinates the project along with ASI Prashanthan.
While the accumulation of plastic on sea floor is considered a major threat to marine ecology, there is also the issue of micro grains eaten by fish entering the food chain. “It’s a process that will eventually lead to loss of sea wealth, but the coastal community seems unaware of this fact,” says environmental activist V.K. Madhusoodan.
The Neendakara Coastal police implemented the project in various phases and all the plastic collected was taken to the shredding unit at the harbour. “An area beside the Shaktikulangara bridge, which was earlier used as a dumping yard, is now waste-free. We have submitted a plan to open a children’s park there,” says Mr. Sreekumar.
Mangrove protection
The department has now taken the project to Alappad grama panchayat, a coastal village spread across 17 km. He adds that public interaction is an integral part of the project as it helps spread awareness.
“The area has mangroves and we are starting a campaign to protect them,” he says. In an attempt to avoid plastic, the department is planning to distribute paper and cloth carry bags among the fishermen. “We will also provide training to start paper bag making units,” he adds.
