Udupi: Udupi district is set to host the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar (SSSS) 2026 campaign to promote coastal cleanliness, reduce marine litter and create awareness about plastic pollution. The initiative, organised by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, will bring together students, fishermen, researchers, residents, NGOs, NSS volunteers and government officials for a series of awareness and beach-cleaning activities.

The nationwide campaign is being held from September 12 to 19 at around 40 coastal locations across India. In Udupi, the district administration has extended the programme until September 20 to facilitate wider participation along the district’s coastline.

Udupi campaign to focus on marine litter and plastic pollution

The Udupi programme is being organised in association with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), NSS units, the Centre for Climate Studies (CCS) and the Centre for Smart Coastal Sustainability (CoE-SCS), with support from the district administration.

The campaign aims to highlight the growing problem of marine litter and plastic waste and encourage communities to take collective responsibility for maintaining clean and sustainable beaches and coastal ecosystems.

Participants will include fishermen, students, researchers, local residents, NGOs, NSS volunteers, government officials and representatives of INCOIS. The involvement of coastal communities is expected to provide an opportunity to discuss both the environmental challenges faced by the coastline and the importance of responsible waste management.

Awareness programme for more than 500 students

As part of the campaign, an awareness programme initiated by the INCOIS Research Scholars Collective (IRSC) will be held for more than 500 students at Malpe and Udyavara.

The programme will cover several aspects of marine environmental protection, including marine litter, microplastics and plastic pollution. Students will also be introduced to INCOIS ocean information and advisory services.

An interaction with fishermen and coastal communities is planned to help participants understand the practical challenges faced by people who depend on the sea. Waste collection and segregation practices will also form part of the awareness programme.

The programme will be inaugurated at 10 am at Government Composite PU College, Malpe. Dakshina Kannada-Udupi constituency MP Kota Shrinivasa Poojary will inaugurate the programme, while Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna will preside.

Beach cleaning drives planned along Udupi coast

Beach cleanliness drives will be conducted at different locations along the Udupi coastline on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 7.30 am on both days.

NSS volunteers, students, faculty members, researchers and members of the public are expected to participate in the drives. Senior district administration officials and Kaup MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty are also expected to take part.

The beach-cleaning activities are intended not only to remove accumulated waste but also to encourage greater public awareness about the impact of plastic and other forms of litter on marine ecosystems.

Marine litter can enter the ocean through several routes, including improper disposal of waste on land and along waterways. Plastic waste is of particular concern because it can persist in the environment and break down into smaller particles, including microplastics.

INCOIS and MAHE coordinate Udupi activities

The Udupi campaign is being coordinated by Balakrishna S Maddodi and Anish Kumar Warrier, co-coordinators of the Centre for Smart Coastal Sustainability at MAHE-MIT.

A team of INCOIS researchers led by scientist Nidheesh AG is also involved in coordinating the programme.

The collaboration between an ocean information services institution, academic institutions, researchers, students and the district administration is intended to combine public participation with scientific awareness.

The organisers are also seeking to make the campaign more than a one-day cleanliness exercise by encouraging continued participation in coastal conservation and responsible waste disposal.

Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar enters fifth edition

The Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 5.0 campaign was launched nationally on September 1, 2026, by Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the 2026 edition is being conducted as a week-long nationwide campaign from September 12 to 19, with activities including beach-cleaning drives, an ocean conservation pledge, cycling rallies, marathons and other public-engagement programmes. More than 100 locations are listed for major beach-cleaning activities under the wider campaign.

The initiative also includes the first national Ocean Olympiad, aimed at encouraging environmental awareness among students and young people.

Focus on long-term coastal conservation

In addition to the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign, INCOIS is strengthening its coastal conservation efforts through the Nirmal Sagar programme. The programme promotes sustained coastal cleanliness, scientific awareness, participation by different stakeholders and responsible stewardship of the marine environment.

For Udupi, the extended campaign period is expected to provide more residents, students and coastal communities an opportunity to participate in the activities.

The combination of awareness sessions, interactions with fishermen and coastal communities, waste segregation education and beach-cleaning drives is intended to reinforce the message that keeping the coastline clean requires continued participation rather than occasional clean-up exercises.

With Udupi’s coastline attracting residents, tourists and fishing communities, the campaign also places emphasis on creating greater public awareness about the consequences of plastic pollution and marine litter.