Hundreds clean up Vizag beach

Visakhapatnam: As part of its 40th Raising Day celebrations, the Indian Coast Guard organised the ‘Special Coastal Clean Up’ at Rushikonda beach here on Saturday. As many as 400 participants from different walks of life — including students from Gitam University, staff from coastal security Police, Novotel Hotel and NCC Cadets participated in the event.

Professor Dr Byragi Reddy T., head of depa-rtment at Environmental Science, Andhra University, was the chief guest. at the event. He lauded the efforts of the Indian Coast Guard and said that conservation and preservation of the coast line was essential to preserve marine flora and fauna as all the accumulated waste finds its way into the ocean. Speaking on the occasion, Commandant H.C. Upadhyay, executive officer, Coast Guard district headquarters No.6 (AP) emphasised the need for clean coast and impact of pollution on the maritime biodiversity, besides effecting beauty of beaches and livelihood of people dependent on it.

He also urged all present to consider cleanliness as social responsibility of every citizen to protect the environment in consonance with “Swacch Bharat” initiative of the Government of India initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.