Udupi: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the ministry of earth sciences, is organising a nationwide coastal cleanliness and public awareness programme under the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar (SSSS) campaign from Sept 12 to 19 at around 40 coastal locations across India.In Udupi, the campaign has been extended to Sept 20 by the district administration, to enable wider participation along the coastline.The programme is being organised in association with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), NSS units, the Centre for Climate Studies (CCS) and the Centre for Smart Coastal Sustainability (CoE-SCS), with the support of the district administration.The campaign aims to raise awareness about marine litter and plastic pollution, and encourage collective responsibility for keeping India’s beaches, coasts and oceans clean, healthy and sustainable. Fishermen, students, researchers, local residents, NGOs, NSS volunteers, govt officials and INCOIS representatives will participate.On Friday, an awareness programme initiated by the INCOIS Research Scholars Collective (IRSC) will be held for more than 500 students at Malpe and Udyavara. The programme will cover marine litter, microplastics and plastic pollution; INCOIS ocean information and advisory services; interaction with fishermen and coastal communities; and waste collection and segregation practices.The programme will be inaugurated at 10am at Govt Composite PU College, Malpe, by MP Kota Shrinivasa Poojary. MLA Yashpal Suvarna will preside.Beach cleanliness drives will be held at various locations along the Udupi coast on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 7.30am on both days. NSS volunteers, students, faculty members, researchers and members of the public will participate. Senior district administration officials and Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty are also expected to take part.The programme is being coordinated by Balakrishna S Maddodi and Anish Kumar Warrier, co-coordinators of the Centre for Smart Coastal Sustainability, MAHE-MIT, along with a team of INCOIS researchers led by Nidheesh AG, scientist.INCOIS is further strengthening its efforts through the Nirmal Sagar programme, which promotes sustained coastal cleanliness, scientific awareness, stakeholder participation and responsible stewardship of the marine environment.
