Navy, CG observe International coastal cleanup day

CHENNAI: The Navy and Coast Guard today observed the International Coastal Cleanup Day, with about 4,000 persons, including personnel from the two services, their families and volunteers participating.

INS Adyar 'observed' the Coastal Cleanup Day at the seashore adjacent to the Navy Office here and more than 1,000 personnel comprising Officers, Sailors and their families participated, a Defence release here said.

School students also participated in the event "and a large quantity of non-biodegradable material was removed from the beach," it said.

Commodore Alok Bhatnagar, Naval Officer-in-Charge ( Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) inaugurated the programme and took part in the cleaning activity, it said.

The event by the Coast Guard saw about 3,000 personnel and families from various units, student volunteers, members of NCC and NSS participating in the Coastal Cleanup Day, it said.

"This event is also to support the Swacch Bharat mission launched" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, another release said.

The International Coastal Cleanup Day is organised on the third Saturday of September every year to maintain 'safe, clean and green' beaches.