New Delhi, Sept 21 (HS): In a massive show of community participation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) led the observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day 2025 across India on September 20, mobilizing more than 26,000 volunteers in a concerted drive to restore coastal health.

The campaign, aligned with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Swachhta Hi Seva (Cleanliness is Service),” saw active involvement of NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, students, and citizens in beach cleaning operations. Participants cleared large amounts of litter and marine debris from shorelines, while awareness programs highlighted sustainable living practices and the significance of protecting fragile marine ecosystems.

International Coastal Cleanup Day, observed globally on the third Saturday of September under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), aims to curb marine pollution through mass civic participation. The ICG, serving as India’s national coordinator since 2006, has been at the forefront of reinforcing environmental stewardship through this initiative.

Highlighting the nation’s commitment, the Coast Guard underscored that the campaign not only strengthened India’s pledge to safeguard its 11,000 km-long coastline but also furthered the goals of the country’s cleanliness and sustainability missions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar