Puri: The district administration is all set to organise a mega cleanliness drive on the coast here to mark the International Coastal Cleanup Day September 21.
According to sources, at least 10,000 volunteers would participate in the drive at several places along the district coast.
The beach cleaning exercise would be taken up simultaneously at 100 places along the 100-km coastline of Puri district. This would be the world’s largest beach clean-up programme, said an official of the district administration.
Puri district Collector Balwant Singh said the cleanliness drive would be conducted from 6 am to 7:30 am. “The 7-km beach of Puri city has been divided into 17 zones for the cleanliness drive. The coastal clean-up exercise would send a message to the whole world to save the mother earth from pollution,” Singh said.
He also said the volunteers would write their names on the sand and take a pledge to keep the coastline clean and avoid the use of plastic. “The volunteers will make a huge human chain to create awareness on polythene hazard and pollution-free shoreline. We will use drone cameras to take photographs of the mega beach clean-up event,” Singh said.
The district Collector has urged students, teachers, government employees, bankers, Srimandir servitors, members of women self-help groups (SHGs), lawyers, media persons and the general public to participate in the mega exercise.
“The Forest and Environment minister, Tourism department secretary and many senior officials from the district administration would participate in the beach clean-up programme,” said a source in the district administration.