India creates 19 broom squads: To clean 24 beaches and riverfronts in 9 coastal states

In the build-up to the World Environment Day 2018, 19 teams have formed to take up cleaning of beaches, riverfronts and lakes in the country. These teams will clean 24 beaches in 9 coastal states.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has taken this initiative to form teams including senior officers of the ministry, state nodal agencies in-charge of eco-clubs of schools, State Pollution Control Boards, district administration, college of fisheries located along the coastal stretches and other educational/research institutions.

The teams will involve school children, college students and local communities in the cleaning exercise. The Ministry will be engaging Eco-club schools, which are being provided assistance from MoEF&CC under the National Green Corps programme.

An amount of Rs. 10 lakh has been earmarked for each stretch of beach, riverfront and lake. Cleaning up around important archaeological sites will also be taken up. The clean-up activities have started from May 15 and will conclude on June 5. During this period, various cultural programmes, quiz competition, debate, awareness rallies will also be organized.

Cleaning equipment will be provided, as well as transportation arrangements will also be made. The waste collected from the beaches and riverfronts will be safely disposed of off to the identified sites, in coordination with local municipal authorities.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, has written to the Principals of schools across the country, requesting them to declare their schools /institutions free from plastic pollution. The Ministry will certify schools that become plastic free and publicize the harmful effects of plastics in a mission mode by undertaking following activities like –

No plastic items may be used in schools such as plastic water bottles, plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic plates, plastic water jugs, plastic folders/trays/pen stands etc.

Adopt a water body, pond, wetland, beaches or eco-sensitive area etc. in or around schools/colleges and make them plastic free.

Cleanliness drives to be undertaken on prescribed holidays between April to May.

At the end of the programme, the Minister will be awarding certificates titled ‘Green School/college’ to institutions that declare themselves free from plastic pollution. The programme will be monitored by senior officers of the Ministry, regional offices of MoEF&CC and district administration. Union Minister for MoEF&CC will issue certificates to all participating schools and colleges as an appreciation of their efforts.

India is the global host of World Environment Day celebrations in 2018, the largest UN-led celebrations on the environment. The theme of this year’s edition of World Environment Day is – “Beat Plastic Pollution”. In this regard, the Ministry has drawn up several programmes and activities scheduled to begin from May 2018 onwards. Some of the activities drawn up for the World Environment Day celebrations include – activities in Vigyan Bhawan, exhibitions on Rajpath lawns and activities in various states.

 State-wise list of river fronts:

State-wise list of beaches:

Courtesy: NewsBharati