Sri Vijaya Puram, July 8: NIOT-ACOSTI organized a coastal clean-up and awareness drive at North Bay Beach, Sri Vijaya Puram, on 08 July 2026, as part of Swachhata Pakhwada (01–15 July), in accordance with the directions of Prof. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT. The campaign focused on promoting coastal cleanliness, reducing single-use plastic use, and encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management practices.
Dr Dilip Kumar Jha, Scientist-F & OIC, emphasised that cleanliness begins at home and called for collective responsibility towards a sustainable future. The initiative was appreciated by Smt. Rashida Bibi, Panchayat Pradhan, Hopetown, for its strong community involvement. A total of 91 volunteers, including NIOT-ACOSTI staff, students, teachers from Vitala Public School, Panchayat members, and local residents, participated enthusiastically and collected 401.4 kg of marine debris.
Sanitation supplies were also distributed, reinforcing commitment towards environmental stewardship and community engagement in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.