more-in Two beaches in Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts will be cleaned up round the year. Scientists of the Kochi-based Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, launched the programme at Saude beach in Fort Kochi on Thursday. Mararikulam North is the other beach identified for the programme. CMLRE researchers will lead the programme in association with Saude West Side Residents’ Association, Student Police Cadets, and NSS volunteers from Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Thevara. The clean-up programme forms part of the Centre’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiative. Plastic refuse brought by fishermen from sea and debris collected from the shore will be stored and later taken to plastic shredding units for converting them into granules. Residents’ associations will lead the manual collection on the beaches. The Centre will fund the initiative for a year, according to organisers. CMLRE director M. Sudhakar formally launched the programme. Collection points will be set up at select locations for volunteers to drop plastic waste. Besides cleaning the beaches, vetiver seedlings will be planted around 50 waterbodies in Alappuzha district. “The fibrous roots of the plants remove minerals from water and render it clean. The roots can go up to six metres in depth and can bind soil together, thereby preventing soil erosion,” said K.V. Jayachandran, former director of research, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Panangad. Exhibitions highlighting the impact of plastic pollution will be organised as part of the campaign. Fr. Samson, a priest of Saude Church, Fort Kochi; D. Abhilash, sub inspector of police, Thoppumpady, Jayan Kunnel and Peter Athipozhi of residents’ association, and CMLRE scientist Sherine Cubelio spoke.

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