Planting of mangroves by more than 600 Navy personnel, their families, Coast Guard personnel and police, restoration of existing ones, and clearing of plastic and non-biodegradable waste from the coast of Kochi were the highlights of the International Coastal Cleanup. The day was celebrated on Saturday.
Personnel from the Southern Naval Command, Coast Guard and Police participated in a global campaign to keep beaches clean in a two kilometer area of Fort Kochi and Cherai beaches, Thevara waterfront, Willingdon and Bolgatty islands and Venduruthy. Channel. Navy sources said personnel and families helped restore nearly 1 lakh sqm of mangroves to their old condition.
The personnel of Southern Naval Command were actively involved in the rejuvenation of the 4.5 km long Venduruthy Channel near the Naval Base and in creating awareness in and around the Naval installations. Efforts were made to increase the green cover by running a mass campaign, including planting more than 75,000 trees using the Miyawaki afforestation method. He said that energy and water conservation measures were also taken.
Southern Naval Command has implemented a ‘Green Initiative and Environment Conservation Roadmap’ with the main focus on carbon-footprint reduction. Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command and Mayor M. Anilkumar participated in Saturday’s cleanliness drive.
A total of 1,500 kg of marine litter was collected by Coast Guard and police personnel. District Police Chief (Kochi City) CH Nagaraju also participated.
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