- Coast Guard District Headquarters (North Gujarat) marks International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026 with a multi-location campaign
- Cleanup teams cover around 8 km across Okha, Jakhau, Vadinar and Mundra
- Tata Chemicals’ Vikrant Deoras inaugurates Okha drive; former Coast Guard chief Dr Prabhakaran Paleri joins as Guest of Honour
- School students, Marine Police, volunteers, civil society and government agencies join hands for cleaner shores
- ‘स्वच्छ सागर, सुरक्षित तट, यही पहचान हमारी’ reinforces the collective resolve to protect marine ecosystems
NE ENVIRONMENT BUREAU
PORBANDAR, SEPTEMBER 19
The fight against marine pollution begins where the land meets the sea—and every piece of litter kept from the waves helps protect marine life, coastal livelihoods and the future of our oceans. Demonstrating what collective action can achieve, the Indian Coast Guard and its partners cleared approximately 820 kg of litter in just two hours across an 8-km stretch of Gujarat’s coastline on Saturday, marking International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026 with a resounding message: clean seas demand shared responsibility.
Coast Guard District Headquarters (North Gujarat) organised a large-scale coastal cleanup campaign at CG Beach, Okha, as part of the global initiative to preserve and protect marine ecosystems through collaborative community action.
The campaign brought together Coast Guard personnel, industry representatives, students, volunteers, Marine Police, civil society members and other government agencies and institutions, highlighting the importance of sustained public participation in keeping the coastline pollution-free.
Industry, veterans join the coastal mission
Vikrant Deoras, Site and Manufacturing Head, Tata Chemicals Ltd, Mithapur, attended as Chief Guest, while Dr Prabhakaran Paleri, former Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, was the Special Guest of Honour.
Their participation highlighted the role of industry leadership and maritime experience in encouraging environmental responsibility and community engagement.
The campaign commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Deoras, followed by a pledge for “Clean Seas, Safe Seas”, setting the tone for a collective effort towards cleaner beaches and healthier marine ecosystems.
Four coastal locations, one common purpose
Demonstrating the Indian Coast Guard’s commitment to marine conservation, personnel from Coast Guard Station Okha and units under its command, along with ICGS Jakhau, ICGS Vadinar and ICGS Mundra, participated in the cleanup.
Teams began beach-cleaning operations at 0730 hours, covering approximately 8 km across four locations:
- The area adjoining Coast Guard land at Okha
- Pingleshwar Beach at Jakhau
- The stretch from DPA gate to Narara Bet at Vadinar
- Luni Beach at Mundra
The coordinated effort extended the campaign’s reach beyond a single beach, bringing multiple coastal communities into a shared environmental mission.
820 kg of litter removed in two hours
Within two hours, cleanup teams collected and responsibly disposed of approximately 820 kg of litter.
The collected waste was handed over to the municipal authorities for safe processing, reinforcing the importance of responsible waste management alongside beach-cleaning activities.
The campaign demonstrated how coordinated action by government agencies, local communities and industry can help address marine litter while strengthening awareness of the need to prevent waste from entering the sea.
Students and communities strengthen the message
Local school students, volunteers, Marine Police personnel, civil society members, representatives of organisations and educational institutions joined the Coast Guard teams.
Their participation brought environmental awareness into the community, particularly among young people, while highlighting that safeguarding the marine environment is a shared responsibility—not merely the task of government agencies.
‘Clean seas, safe shores’: A pledge for the future
Held under the banner “स्वच्छ सागर, सुरक्षित तट, यही पहचान हमारी” (Clean seas, safe shores—this is our identity), the campaign reflected a collective resolve to sustain a vibrant, pollution-free coastline for future generations.
The initiative also underscored a message extending beyond the cleanup itself: protecting the ocean requires responsible disposal of waste, community awareness and continued cooperation among public institutions, industry and citizens.
As the International Coastal Cleanup Day campaign brought together participants across Gujarat’s coastline, its central message remained clear—the sea cannot clean itself; keeping it clean begins with every one of us.
