Students, corporates clean up Marina beach

 

Flagging off the clean-up drive, Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraiswamy, who chose not to volunteer, said, “A series of plans by the Chief Minister on beach cleaning are in line, awaiting the high court’s judgment for its approval. Such beach cleaning initiatives are commendable, they convey the need to conserve nature.”

 

A van, spelling out the pollutants that harm sea turtles, with different kinds of plastic waste stuck on it, was on display to create awareness on turtle conservation. R. Janavi, a class 5 student, who comes to the beach on weekends with her family, was there on Saturday to clean up the place instead. 

 

“I collected glass pieces and plastic waste. This experience taught me not to litter beaches and that sea animals need to be cared about too,” she said. Children from various schools carried placards with pictures of sea animals that read: ‘Do you dirty your own house? If not, why do you dirty mine?’

 

While the volunteers learnt about not polluting the beaches, they collected large amounts of debris. Some children found it ironical to be using plastic gloves for cleaning the beach when the campaign was against the use of plastic. 

 

“Dustbins are not available at the beach and we do not know how to keep the beach clean though the theme of this event is about not littering the place,” said A. Gunaraj, a first year medical lab technician student from Periyapalayam.