Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation removed 2.4 tonnes of waste from Palavakkam beach during a cleaning drive to mark International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday.More than 300 people took part in the drive, organised jointly by GCC and the department of environment, climate change and forests. Participants included representatives from the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Arogya Bharath, the Rotary Club of Chennai, NCC, Urbaser Sumeet, among others. The cleanup was under the theme ‘Clean Ocean, Safe Coast, Our Identity’.Separately, the Chennai-based Indian Coast Guard’s regional headquarters (East) conducted a coastal cleanup mission at 17 beaches across the State and Puducherry. Around 7,700 volunteers collected more than 8.2 tonnes of marine litter. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was also present at Marina Beach, while Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan participated in the cleanup programme at Rock Beach.Coast Guard said volunteers included personnel from state govt departments, the Indian Army, CISF, NSS, NCC, and NGOs.
