Udupi: A cleanliness drive was organised at Kapu Beach on Sunday with the participation of the Udupi district administration, Kapu Town Municipal Council, Swachham Water Adventure, various organisations and students from schools and colleges.
The campaign focused on removing waste from the beach and creating greater public awareness about the need to maintain cleanliness at one of the coastal region’s popular tourist destinations.
Volunteers collect waste from beach
Volunteers and students took part in the cleanliness campaign and collected different types of waste scattered across the beach area.
A significant amount of plastic waste discarded by tourists was among the material collected during the drive. The collected waste was handed over to the Kapu Town Municipal Council for appropriate disposal.
The campaign sought to encourage visitors to take greater responsibility for keeping the beach clean and avoid leaving plastic and other waste behind after their visits.
Awareness on beach cleanliness
Along with the physical cleaning activity, participants also raised awareness among the public about the importance of maintaining cleanliness at Kapu Beach.
Organisers highlighted the need to keep the beach environment clean and attractive for tourists and local visitors. The campaign also stressed responsible disposal of waste, particularly plastic, which can accumulate along coastal areas and affect the surroundings.
Volunteers interacted with visitors and conveyed the message that maintaining the cleanliness of the beach requires the cooperation of both authorities and the public.
Officials and organisations participate
Kapu Town Municipal Council Chief Officer Neelakantha Mesta and president Mohini Shetty took part in the campaign.
Community organisers Ratnakara Shetty, Vidyalatha, Nooruddin, Umesh Karkera and Vani Alva, along with Senior Health Inspector Anwar Ali, also participated.
Office-bearers and members of the Rotary Club of Kalyanapura joined the cleanliness initiative.
Representatives of the Swachham group, including Taranath, Guruprasad, Dhanpal Kotyan, Chandrashekhar Mendon, Nitin and Abhilash Bhat, were among those who participated in the campaign.
Students join hands for cleaner beach
Students from schools and colleges also played an important role in the drive. Their participation added a strong community and awareness component to the initiative.
The involvement of young volunteers was aimed at encouraging environmentally responsible habits and highlighting the importance of protecting public spaces.
By taking part in the campaign, the students helped remove waste from the beach while also spreading awareness about keeping coastal areas free from litter.
Community participation stressed
The cleanliness drive brought together government representatives, civic officials, voluntary organisations, community groups and students for a common cause.
Kapu Beach attracts visitors throughout the year, making regular cleanliness and responsible waste management important for maintaining its surroundings. While civic agencies are responsible for waste collection and management, organisers emphasised that visitors also have a role in ensuring that waste is not discarded on the beach.
The campaign concluded with an appeal to the public to cooperate with cleanliness efforts and dispose of waste responsibly.
Such community-led initiatives can help supplement routine civic cleaning and encourage greater awareness among visitors about preserving the cleanliness of coastal tourist destinations.