- At Porbandar, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 1 organised clean-up drives at Chowpati Beach, Porbandar; Birla Chowpati Beach, Veraval; and Sarkeshwar Beach, Pipavav
- Simultaneously, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 15 (North Gujarat) held a grand drive at Okha Beach, Dwarka
NE NEWS SERVICE
PORBANDAR/DWARKA, SEPT 20
The Indian Coast Guard on Saturday spearheaded large-scale observances of International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2025 across multiple beaches in Gujarat, reaffirming its role as the nation’s nodal agency for marine environmental protection.
A Global Movement with Local Impact
Observed worldwide on the third Saturday of September, ICC is a global initiative to protect and restore ocean health through collaborative community action. Since 2006, the Indian Coast Guard has led this movement in India, mobilizing nationwide clean-up drives, engaging civil society, and reinforcing public awareness about the urgent need for ocean conservation and resilient coastal ecosystems.
Major Drives at Porbandar, Veraval, Pipavav and Okha
At Porbandar, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 1 organised clean-up drives at Chowpati Beach, Porbandar; Birla Chowpati Beach, Veraval; and Sarkeshwar Beach, Pipavav. Arjun Bhai Modhwadia, Hon’ble MLA from Porbandar, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, joining Coast Guard personnel and hundreds of volunteers in the effort.
Simultaneously, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 15 (North Gujarat) held a grand drive at Okha Beach, Dwarka. The event was flagged off by the District Commander, Okha, in the gracious presence of Shri Rino Raj, Vice President & Site Head, Tata Chemicals Ltd, Mithapur, who inspired participants to embrace collective responsibility for cleaner coasts and safer seas.
Strong Turnout, Stronger Message
The 2025 observances witnessed overwhelming participation across locations, with over 1,000 volunteers at Porbandar, Veraval and Pipavav, and more than 1,300 Coast Guard personnel from ICGS Vadinar, Mundra and Jakhau joining hands at Okha, along with 500 school students, NCC cadets, NGO members, Marine Police, officials from GEMI, civil society representatives, and local government agencies.
Together, participants cleaned stretches of coastline—ranging from six designated zones at Porbandar Chowpati to the 2.5 km stretch from Okha Lighthouse to Pawan Chakki—collecting plastics, fishing nets, glass, metals, and organic waste. Approximately 750 kg of litter was responsibly disposed of at Okha alone, with all debris handed over to local municipal bodies for safe processing.
A Commitment to Cleaner Oceans
The campaign, held under the twin banners of International Coastal Cleanup Day and Swachhata Hi Sewa, powerfully reflected the shared resolve of government agencies, industry leaders, academic institutions, NGOs, and local communities to sustain vibrant, pollution-free coastlines for future generations.
The Indian Coast Guard reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to marine environmental protection, with the clean-up concluding in symbolic gestures—the pledge of “Clean Seas, Safe Seas,” group photographs, and the formal handover of collected waste to civic authorities.
