ANDHRA PRADESH WITNESSES THE WORLD’S LARGEST BEACH CLEAN-UP DRIVE AT VISAKHAPATNAM
SIGNS MoU WITH PARLEY FOR THE OCEANS TO RECYCLE, REDESIGN & CURB PLASTIC POLLUTION
- ANDHRA PRADESH GOVT ALONG WITH PARLEY ENTER WONDER BOOK OF RECORDS FOR THE MASSIVE CLEAN-UP DRIVE
- OVER 76 TONNES OF PLASTIC COLLECTED ALONG 28-KM OF COASTLINE OF VISHAKHAPATNAM
- CM ANNOUNCES COMPLETE BAN ON PLASTIC FLEXI & BANNERS; TO BE PLASTIC POLLUTION-FREE BY 2027
- OVER 20,000 JOBS TO BE CREATED OVER THE NEXT 6 YEARS IN THE STATE
Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh Government has yet again reached a milestone by entering the “Wonder Book of World Records” by organizing the world’s largest beach cleanup drive in Visakhapatnam on August 26, in association with Parley for the Oceans. The event witnessed an attendance of over 22,000 people participating in the massive clean-up drive, spanning across a stretch of 28 kms – from Gokul beach to Bheemli beach. As part of the largest clean drive, over 76 tonne of plastic was collected.
Creating history, Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy applauded the efforts in protecting flora and fauna of the 2ndlargest coastline in the country and also in safeguarding the marine ecosystem of the state. He said it’s every citizen and the government’s responsibility to protect the thriving ecosystem.
In a fight against the use of plastic, the CM himself has called for a complete ban on plastic Flexi banners in the State. The Chief Minister announced that henceforth there would be a complete ban on Flexi banners, and one should start using cloth for this purpose, even if it costs a little more.
“We are taking this measure as the first step to ensure a ban on plastic. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam is already following the plastic-free policy in Tirumala and it is yielding good results. Instead of plastic bags, woven cloth bags are used there. We are slowly taking steps across the State as well and we are trying to create awareness among people about using alternative materials instead of plastic. This is to make the State free of plastic pollution by the year 2027,” the CM announced.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has also entered an MoU with Parley for the Oceans, part of the Global Network, intending to make Andhra Pradesh plastic free by 2027. Calling it an ambitious project, CM Jagan said that no one in the country and the world have achieved such a milestone and it gives the government a great pleasure in ensuring that the state will be made plastic pollution-free by 2027.
“A state which carries a population of 52 million people and a coastline of 976 km, to witness this first-of-its-kind initiative on a massive scale has never been achieved by anyone in the world. I thank the CEO of Parley, Mr. CyrillGustch, for setting up the ‘Parley super hub’, which will take up recycling and upcycling work. Though this project is ambitious, we will work together to ensure that the face of Andhra Pradesh and the landscape of the state will change in a positive way on a global platform,” the CM, said.
Parley for the Oceans has taken up a war against the plastic pollution to end it at the earliest not by recycling, but in the redesign and replacement of harmful materials, methods and thinking.
“Plastic is a design failure. There is no closed loop for a faulty material that never dies. Parley for the Oceans therefore calls for a Material Revolution and inviting all their collaborators and partners to take part by implementing the Parley AIR Strategy: Avoid. Intercept. Redesign” the CEO for Parley for the Oceans, CyrillGustch, said.
Parley have also decided to launch the “Parleys future institute”. The institute will be one-of-a-kind research centre with cutting edge technology for new materials in the future. This way, the plastic that is collected will be studied and redesigned in ways that will make Andhra Pradesh leaders of the world along with Parley.
“We shall continue to lead the country with a goal to end plastic pollution by the year 2027 and set an example to the world,” the CM, said.
The government of Andhra Pradesh and global alliance strategic partner – ‘Parley For The Oceans’ shall work towards achieving the following results
• Develop and implement improved sanitation and waste management system across the state
• Deploy AIR stations – Avoid, Intercept and Redesign plastic. Over 500 AIRs will be set per mandal and local bodies
• 10 eco– innovation hubs will be set up to help curb plastic pollution
• Intercept plastic disposal along coastline, in drains, irrigation channels and river lines, curbing the pollution
• Mobilize approximately 20,000 ocean warriors and train them
• 2 billion dollars (Rs 16,000 Cr investment) in the course of 6 years
• Providing employment to 20,000 people with a minimum of Rs 16,000 payable to each one of them
• A Corporate network to use plastic and recycled material – connect with companies to make use of recycled plastic
