As part of the International Coastal Cleanup Day, which is observed on September 21, a group of students will clean up the Fort Kochi beach today. Organised by the department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Bio-chemistry of School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), and the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), the coastal cleaning activities will go on from 8 am to 9 am. Students from CUSAT and neighbouring institutions including Bharata Mata College, St Albert’s College and CIFT will volunteer for the drive. More than cleaning drive, the event intends to exhort people to stop using plastic.
All participants will assemble at the venue at 7 am. A panel of dignitaries including Prof. Dr K.N. Madhusoodanan, vice-chancellor, CUSAT; Prof. Dr N. Chandramohan Kumar, director, IUCDMB, CUSAT; Shiny Mathew, standing committee chairperson; Antony Francis, ward councillor, Prof. Dr S. Bijoy Nandan, HOD of Marine Biology, CUSAT; Prof. Dr M. Harikrishnan, director, School of Industrial Fisheries, CUSAT, and Dr R. Sajeev, HOD, Physical Oceanography, CUSAT, will address the participants. Once the cleaning activities are over, an awareness rally will be held on the premises. The Coastal Cleanup Day observance is part of the efforts to save the environment from destruction.
