Students, community join hands for coastal conservation

Kasaragod: The Central University of Kerala (CUK), in association with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Udma Grama Panchayat, organised a beach-cleaning and ocean-awareness programme at Kottikulam Kodi Beach in Kasaragod on Wednesday as part of the ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ initiative.

The programme was inaugurated by District Police Chief P. Nidhinraj IPS, who called upon students to take an active role in environmental protection and stressed the importance of individual and community action. He also led the participants in taking the ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ pledge. Uduma Grama Panchayat president Chandran Nalamvathukkal presided.

Students, members of the panchayat and Haritha Karma Sena took part in the beach-cleaning drive. Panchayat members Mohammed Shiyaz, P.V. Krishnan, C.K. Venu and Karim Nalamvathukkal led the cleaning activities.

A team of scientists and research scholars from INCOIS conducted an awareness session for the coastal community on marine pollution, plastic waste, responsible waste disposal and the protection of marine ecosystems. The interaction also highlighted the potential of Kodi Beach as a coastal tourism destination, given its natural setting and landscape.

The participants discussed the scope for promoting responsible and sustainable tourism while protecting the coastal and marine environment. The programme stressed the need to align tourism development with environmental conservation and community participation.

The speakers included Dr. Nidheesh A.G., Scientist at INCOIS, as well as Prof. Sijin Kumar A.V. (Head, Department of Geology), Dr. K. Sandeep (Assistant Professor), and Dr. Sudheesh V. (Technical Officer) from CUK.