The personnel of the Eastern Naval Command and Coast Guard along with their families and other stakeholders embarked on a drive to clean up the beaches in the city from Yarada to Kalinga to mark the 29th International Coastal Clean-up Day.
Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Bimal Verma flagged off the drive being taken up with the theme 'Fighting for trash-free seas' at the Kursura Museum.
The Coastal Cleanup drive has gained importance in Visakhapatnam for the last few years due to infrastructural development and exponential rise in the field of industrialisation which has directly affected environment and surroundings.
These major advances have direct impact on surrounding areas and also the adjoining sea region due to major dumping of sewage and industrial waste.
On the occasion of International Coastal Cleanup Day this year the cleanup drive is being jointly undertaken for the third time with more than 1,500 citizens of Visakhapatnam and about 3,000 Naval personnel and their families participating in the event.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard and Visakhapatnam unit of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages joined hands with Ocean Conservancy to undertake a massive cleanup drive at Rishikonda beach.