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Ahmedabad, October 26 (IANS) Union Minister of State Nimuben Bambhania has launched a month-long coastal cleanup campaign in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district. After the earlier attempt at Koliyak Beach, the first of these drives was conducted at Kuda Beach in Ghogha Taluka.
The aim of the campaign is not just to clean beaches, but to engage citizens in a sustainable environmental movement focusing on plastic-free beaches and marine conservation. Addressing the participants, Minister Bambhania emphasized that the program is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of protecting marine life and maintaining ecological balance.
They committed to conduct cleanliness drives on the last Sunday of every month, encouraging local residents to actively participate and adopt eco-friendly practices. The Minister highlighted that the campaign reflects the ethos of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, urging citizens to maintain cleanliness and inspire others to do the same, making environmental responsibility a shared moral duty.
During the Kuda Beach Drive, volunteers collected plastic waste, bottles, bags and other debris, demonstrating their commitment towards protecting the environment. The initiative involved district and taluka officials, panchayat members, volunteers from the youth wing of the Sindhi community and local residents, all of whom pledged to maintain cleanliness and protect the coastal ecosystem.
The campaign is an important step in Bhavnagar’s efforts to create plastic-free beaches, raise public awareness on environmental protection and encourage community-led participation in maintaining ecological balance.
Gujarat boasts a coastline of over 1,600 kilometres, stretching from Diu in the south to the Gulf of Kutch in the north, including major districts like Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Surat and Dwarka. These coastal areas are ecologically and economically important, supporting marine biodiversity, fisheries, salt production, ports and tourism.
However, rapid urbanization, industrial activity, and uncontrolled plastic use have led to pollution, accumulation of plastic waste, and degradation of marine habitats. Coastal cleanup initiatives are therefore important to protect marine life, prevent ecosystem disruption, ensure public health and promote environmental awareness among local communities as well as sustain ocean-dependent livelihoods.
–IANS
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