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Puducherry, Eden Beach, to Chinna veerampatinam

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the Government of Puducherry, organized a large-scale Beach Cleaning Drive at Eden Beach, to Chinna veerampatinam Beach on 20th September 2025. The initiative was part of the “Seva Parv” campaign, commemorating International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD) 2025.

The programme aimed to raise awareness about marine pollution, coastal conservation, and the urgent need for sustainable environmental practices. The event drew enthusiastic participation from local communities, school children, representatives of local self-governments, government officials, environmental organizations, and educational institutions.

A total of 247 volunteers took part in the clean-up, collecting nearly 300.0 kg of marine litter and waste. The debris primarily consisted of plastic materials and discarded fishing nets, glass and rubber items etc.

Alongside the clean-up, the event also featured public awareness activities and community engagement programmes. The drive concluded with all participants taking the Green Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable living.

Beach Data

Event Information
Event Name	International Coastal Clean-up day (ICCD) - 2025
Description	International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD) is celebrated worldwide every year during the third week of September. It is one of the largest voluntary efforts organized to clean up the coast, protect the marine environment, and create awareness on coastal conservation among the public.
Chief Guest	1. Thiru. V. Ramesh, The Commissioner, Ariyankuppam Commune Panchayat, Puducherry. 2. Dr. P Govindassamy, Deputy Director, Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Puducherry.
Participants & Beach Length
Male	117	Female	130
Length (m)	183.90	Width (m)	72.98
Area (sq.m)	13421.022
Beach Information
Situated In	Rural	Beach Usage	Tourism,Fishing,Religious
Beach Type	Sandy
Near Harbour/Jetty	Harbour	Close to River/Creek?	Yes
Close to Fishing Village?	Yes	Commercial Shop Available?	Yes

Litter Information

Category	Value
Fishing Nets	56.0
️ Plastic	69.0
Glass	22.0
Paper	6.0
Rubber	58.0
️ Metal	18.0
Wood	30.0
Medical Waste	11.0
Others	31.0
Total Litter	300.0
Remarks	The collected litter, weighing 299.9 kg, was segregated into various categories. Major portions included plastics (water bottles, cups, food containers, hair clips, snack covers, shampoo sachets), rubber items (mainly slippers), and fishing-related litter (nets and ropes), indicating significant human activity along the coast. Considerable quantities of glass bottles, wood items, and metal cans were also found, along with smaller amounts of paper, medical, and miscellaneous waste. This underscores the need for placing dustbins at multiple locations, conducting regular awareness programs and beach clean-ups, promoting proper waste disposal, reducing single-use plastics, and educating fishermen not to discard fishing-related litter into the sea. Active public participation and effective waste management are essential to reduce coastal pollution