Ten tonnes of plastic waste was collected from the seashores of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve during a three-day Blue Challenge initiative undertaken by students and volunteers as part of the International Day of Forests observed from March 21.
A series of programmes were inaugurated by the Wildlife Warden and Director Bakhan Jagadish Sudhakar, Additional District Collector Praveeh Kumar and Assistant Superintendent of Police Deepak Siwach on March 21. As part of the events, 150 Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchings were released on Dhanuskodi seashore.
Beach cleaning activities were started and cloth bags as alternatives to plastic carry bags were distributed to students, eco development committee members and fishermen at Dhanuskodi.
School and college students, volunteers from 252 eco development committee villages of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Trust took part in the beach clean-up activity for three days, when they collected 10 tonnes of plastic waste, including water bottles and carry bags. This is the first time that such a huge quantity of plastic waste had been collected during the clean-up activity in Ramanathapuram district.
"The plastic waste would be handed over to solid waste disposal yard run by Ramanathapuram municipality for laying roads," said Mandapam Forest Range Officer G. Venkatesh.
Based on the quantity of plastic materials collected by individual students and eco-development committee members, prizes and certificates were distributed by Ramanathapuram Collector Shankar Lal Kumawat and Mr. Sudhakar on Friday.
Eco-development Officer Ganesalingam, Forest Guards and Anti-Poaching Watchers were present.
