Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 15 (ANI): Around 2500 people including the Indian Navy personnel, local police personnel and officials of the health department, voluntarily participated in the beach clean up drive organised by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and district administration on Sunday.

The Beach clean up drive mission was launched in the name of "Our Vizag, Our responsibility", from RK beach to Jodigullapalem beach (10 km) in Visakhapatnam.

Also Read | India-Nepal Relations: ‘Our Ties With Nepal Are Unparalleled, Based on People-to-People Contact’, Says PM Narendra Modi.

"We called for a ban on single use plastic from June 5. We have found plastic spoons, cups, chappals (footwear) and other plastic things from the beach. A number of visitors, both Indian and foreigners visit the beach every day, and it leaves a bad impression of the country on them," said Lakshmi Shah, GVMC commissioner.

According to the District collector Mallikarjuna, a beach clean up programme is conducted on the first Sunday of every month. "More than 5,000 to 10,000 people visit the beaches in Vizag, every day, hence everyone should voluntarily make an effort to clean the beach," he said.

Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir Bus Fire: Police Ascertaining Veracity of Terrorist Claim for Mata Vaishno Devi Pilgrims Bus Fire.

"It is not a one-day exercise. Everyone who comes to visit Vizag beach should take the responsibility to save the environment. We have found many items made of plastic from the beach and, thus urge everyone to avoid the use of single-use plastic," said the commissioner Ch Srikanth.

The GVMC is continuously putting endless efforts to spread awareness regarding the Swachh Survekshan campaign, but the abysmal state of the beaches is not getting any better. Hence, the concerned locals have taken the responsibility to clean up the beaches by organising beach clean-up campaigns along the coastline. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)