Tons of Trash Removed from TN and Pondycherry beaches in the 1st. phase of International Coastal Cleanup 2013

International coastal Cleanup 2013 was flagged off by Worshipful Mayor of Chennai Thiru Saidai Duraisamy for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry giving a go ahead to thousands of volunteers to participate in  world’s largest volunteer effort in a single day for our oceans, seas, beaches and other waterways.

Under the aegis of the ocean conservancy, USA , the Indian Maritime Foundation, Navy Foundation and Brainchild Business Solutions organized the fifth edition of the coastal cleanup program Phase 1  on Saturday the 21st. Sept. 2013 along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. A total of 28 coastal blocks covering 260 kms were covered in the cleanup in the first phase, which saw record number of dedicated and public volunteers remove tons of coastal garbage. The spirit of these young volunteers was all pervasive with much impact on the coastal population.

The cleanup program, according to international guidelines, achieved the set objectives of (a) cleanup and show the way to clean coastals (b) create awareness along the coastal population to keep clean coasts with attendant socio, recreational and economic benefits.

The accurate data collected by the volunteers during the cleanup and compiled by the  INDMARFCB today reveals  plastic products as prime trash ( 36%) , followed by  wood(  16 %),  derelict fishing gear/nylon ropes ( 12 %), cigarettes ( 7 %),  glass 18% and others  ( 11 %). these data will be analysed and taken up with local authorities  for possible solutions to progressively eliminate such trash along our coast. A total of 25 tons of coastal trash was removed in today’s cleanup, covering 195 kms along the Tamilnadu and Puducherry coasts , with participation of 2892  dedicated volunteers and  approximately  500 public volunteers.

In his introductory speech at the flag-off of the volunteers at the Marina beach at Chennai, Admiral Vasan, Vice President of the INDMARFCB brought out the very significant contribution by our dedicated volunteers along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, which moved India’s world standing from 12th. position in 2009 to 7th. position in 2012.

The chief guest Thiru Saidai  Duraiswamy commended this voluntary action by the INDMARFCB and  sought the cooperation of  the public to shun plastics bags and avoid coastal trash . He assured the full cooperation of the Chennai corporation  in extending the reach of the cleanup program  and work with NGOs to educate the public and further bring down the garbage levels , as indeed happening in the coastal blocks where icc program is being repeated each year, mainly due to the awareness campaign by the Indian maritime foundation Chennai branch. .

The consul general of the USA at Chennai Ms. Jennifer McIntyre reiterated the commitment of the USA to preservation of the marine environment and lauded the very important coordination role by the Ocean Conservancy, USA in many facets of the marine environment.

Ocean Conservancy  believes, Trash doesn’t start and stop at the trash can, and out of sight doesn’t mean out of our ocean. From product creation to disposal, we must tackle trash at every point. The items we use – or don’t use – have a lasting impact. While solutions are built on individual actions of people, organizations and companies, it will take a collective movement to make a lasting difference. The Cleanup is part of Ocean Conservancy’s  and  indmarfcb’s larger strategy for Trash Free Seas and is one of the many ways the organization is helping find answers and solutions for marine debris.

Khalid Abdullah Khan, Chairman of Brainchild Business solutions Pvt. Ltd. given the welcome address and conducted the function attended by the eminent dignitaries.

The second phase of the cleanup in balance 5 blocks will be undertaken by the respective organizations on 28 Sept. 2013

The function was organized by the Navy Foundation Chennai Chapter and Brainchild Ltd., a Media & PR agency committed to the environment sustainability under the ICC event organizer along the Tamilnadu and Puducherry coasts ie  Indian maritime foundation , Chennai branch , and supported by the Indian Coast Guard, NCC, NSS, various educational institutions, private and govt. organizations.