Berhampur: Around 170 kg of polluting materials were recovered during a cleaning drive launched on Gopalpur tourist beach in Odisha’s Ganjam district on the occasion of the International Coastal Clean-up Day on Saturday.
The drive was jointly organised by the Department of Environmental Studies of Berhampur University (BU); National Centre for Coastal Research, Chennai; Regional Office of the State Pollution Control Board, Berhampur and Rotary Club International, Berhampur. The theme of this year’s programme is “Fighting for Trash Free Seas”.
Around 250 post-graduate students and research scholars of Department of Environmental Studies of BU, graduate students of Gopalpur College, students of Veda Vyas School, Berhampur and representatives of participating agencies took part in the day-long drive.
During the drive along half-a-km stretch of Gopalpur beach, 46 kg of non-degradable large plastics and 30 kg of small plastics were collected.
Participating in the cleaning drive, Prof Geetanjali Dash, vice-chancellor of Berhampur University appreciated the collaborative efforts of multiple agencies for a common cause. The beach cleaning would help keep the marine ecosystem pristine and sustainable for the future, she said.
Deepak Kumar Sahoo, Regional Officer, State Pollution Control Board; Pradyumna Kumar Bisoyi, president of Rotary Club, Berhampur; B Anjan Kumar Prusty, HoD, Environmental Studies, BU and Executive Officer of Gopalpur NAC also joined the drive.
Dr Santosh K Beja, Assistant Professor, Rachna Panda and B Bisoi of Environmental Studies, BU coordinated the event.
