Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has appealed to people to keep Odisha’s coastline clean and protect its marine ecosystems, saying the ocean is an integral part of the state’s identity, heritage and way of life.
In a message on International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Majhi said maintaining clean beaches and healthy oceans would not only protect the environment, but also help strengthen livelihoods and promote a thriving Blue Economy.
“Let every hand that removes waste from our shores become a hand that protects a livelihood, and every clean beach a promise to our children,” Majhi said in a social media post.
“Let us keep Odisha’s shores clean, its oceans healthy and our coastal communities secure, while building a thriving Blue Economy that carries our timeless bond with the sea into a new future,” he added.
The CM added that Odisha’s coastline was much more than a stretch of sand and sea, describing it as an integral part of the state’s cultural identity and traditions.
“From the sacred shores of Puri to Gopalpur, from the mangroves of Bhitarkanika to the nesting grounds of Olive Ridley turtles, our coast carries stories, traditions and memories passed down generations,” he said.
Referring to the sea at Puri as ‘Mahodadhi’, a name found in the Puranas and other scriptures, Majhi said it stands as a witness to the sacred land of Lord Jagannath and reflects Odisha’s enduring relationship with nature, faith and its traditional way of life.