City’s Coastal Cleanup

With the theme “Namma Chennai, Namma Responsibility”, International Coastal Cleanup Day 2025 was marked with one of the city’s largest-ever volunteer drives. CommuniTREE, a Chennai-based NGO, in collaboration with Greater Chennai Corporation, Forest Department, Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Science, and conservation partners including Save a Turtle, organised a massive cleanup across 44 stretches of Chennai’s coastline from Kasimedu to Kovalam.

This year, the campaign saw the participation of 30,000 volunteers, including students, NCC, NSS, NGOs, Lions, Rotary, and corporate groups. Together, they collected over 210 tonnes of plastic and other waste, reinforcing Chennai’s commitment to safeguarding its marine ecosystems.

At Marina Beach, the event was graced by PCCF Srinivas Reddy, who felicitated the volunteers for their dedication. The Besant Nagar stretch at Thalapakkati was organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (South Zone) and was honoured by the presence of NCB South Zonal Director Mr. Aravindan IPS. On this occasion, the NCB team also took a “Say No to Drugs” pledge, extending the campaign’s vision beyond trash-free beaches to a drug-free society.

More than 175 groups took pledges under the campaign’s theme “Namma Chennai, Namma Responsibility to keep the city’s beaches clean and work towards a greener and more sustainable future.