Collector takes part in beach cleaning

Visakhapatnam: As part of World Environment Day celebrations, Collector Praveen Kumar flagged-off a green rally after taking a pledge to protect nature and water resources.

Later, the collector participated in beach cleaning programme near Rushikonda, conducted by Andhra Pradesh Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes here on Sunday along with city-based NGOs, organisations and health clubs.

Speaking on the occasion, Praveen Kumar said this year’s theme of celebrating World Environment Day was ‘Beat plastic pollution,’ by creating awareness about the need to protect the environment.

As part of campaign, a beach clean-up programme was organised by the AP Ministry of environment in association with other NGOs. In another similar programme, the Indian Society for Cultural Cooperation and Friendship ISCUF has staged a dharna in front of GVMC’s Gandhi Statue in the city to create awareness among citizens to avoid plastic usage in their day-to-day life.

Speaking on the occasion, former VC of Acharya Nagarjuna University and Convener of Swachh Bharat Ambassador V Bala Mohan Das said despite civic bodies and NGOs launching awareness campaigns against the use of plastic bags, lack of better alternatives was some of the reasons of increasing plastic pollution.

The non-biodegradable plastic carry bags coming in unique forms are becoming an indispensable part of denizens’ lifestyle due to qualities such as convenience, cheaper in price, easy accessibility and moisture resistant. The activists demanded the citizens to shun use of plastic carry bags to avoid pollution.