Clean up your coast this Saturday, join global movement

After Anant Chaturdashi, Mumbai's beaches and water bodies will be a part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), which involves compiling records of debris thrown across the coastline following the immersion of idols.

ICC is a global movement where volunteers clean up trash and submit records to the Ocean Conservancy, Washington, an international organisation that compiles and then conducts research on the data.

This year, nearly 400 volunteers have signed up to be a part of the cleanup at Dadar Chowpatty, Juhu beach and other spots. “We will submit data on items picked up and photographs of each location to the organisation. They then compile the data and publish a snapshot of marine debris in an annual report, aiding in formulation of policies to reduce marine debris. In this way, we will be able to go a step ahead of cleaning up,” said ICC Mumbai zone captain Raveena Joseph.

The volunteers will be mainly from schools, colleges and churches.

“The cleanup has been fixed for September 25. We are forming small camps to motivate people to join us. Every year, volunteers clean up beaches but the next year, the problem returns. Our objective is to measure the trash thrown by citizens, so that it could help form a scientific conclusion on how much impact it will have on the marine environment,” said Joseph.

Another organisation gearing up for the cleanup is the Centre for Social Action (CSA), in collaboration with its associated organisations in the Dharavi Island and the Central Marine Fisheries and Research Institute and Fishing Cooperatives. “We are celebrating the 25th International Coastal Cleanup Day. We will start the cleanup at Dharavi Island, as it will be one of the most polluted areas after the visarjan,” said Elias Gonsalves of the CSA.