C BEACH CAMPAIGN Year: 2012 - 13gujenvis.nic.in/GEC stories/Clean the Beach Campaign.pdfsensitive area in the CRZ notification 2011. The beaches are harbouring variety of biodiversity

“Clean BEACH CAMPAIGN”

Year: 2012 - 13

Gujarat Ecology Commission

Gandhinagar


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1. Background

Gujarat State is having the largest coastline in India majoring about 1600 k.m. This

coastline harbours variety of natural heritage and coastal natural health. Gujarat is

basically a maritime sector endowed with 1650 k.m long coastline (Over 21% of the

Indian coastline of 7517 km), which makes it strategically serving as natural gateway to

India. The coastline of Gujarat has two indentations, the Gulf of Kachchh and Gulf of

Khambhat covering about 60% of the state coastline.

Beach is one of the important ecological habitats which is also identified as ecological

sensitive area in the CRZ notification 2011. The beaches are harbouring variety of

biodiversity as well as provide the ground to nurture entire ecosystem.

Thus Gujarat coast provides ample scope to develop beach/coast based tourism. As

pert the recent survey conducted by TCGL in the tourism tread fair it was found that

Indian tourist love to travel on domestic destination than the flying outside the country

with an average spending of Rs. 18,000.00.

Considering importance of coastal area as one of the hottest destinies for the tourist the

State Government of Gujarat had earmarked 350 crores for the development of

infrastructure over the identified locations of coastal areas. Recently GUJTOP [A Joint

Venture of TCGL and IL & FS] had developed potential 20 Beaches [Tithal [Valsad],

Dandi [Navasari, Gogha, katpar, Madhavpur, Miyani, Odedar, [Porbandar]

Pingleshwar [Kachchh], Poshitra, Sarkeshwar, Shivarajpur, [Amereli] etc] to

develop it as one of the tourism destiny. Which clearly shows that this type of

development will be increasing pressure over the coastal beaches of the State.

2. Probable Impacts over Coastal Beaches.

The land and coast based manmade activities are the main sources to leading the

destruction/pollution of the marine ecosystem. Following are the major reasons for the

destruction of marine ecosystem due to land base activities.

Urban sprawl and habitat loss from construction and tourist pressures

Solid waste and sewage discharge; chemical effluents due to tourism and other

land based activities

Coral bleaching

Coastal erosion, beach loss

Sea-level rise; extreme wave events


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Manmade activities like use of plastic/solid waste depositing/unused food etc

3. Rational of the Clean Beach Campaign.

Recently, MoEF had issued new Coastal Regulation Zone notification 2011 with a

mandate for conservation of coastal resource. Under this notification beaches and

sand dunes are covered as ecological sensitive area and under NO DEVELOPMENT

ZONE therefore it is essential to make aware the people/tourist who visits the

beaches about the CRZ notification and its implications through proper way

Due to tourism and other manmade activities such as pollution through uses of

plastics, sanitation issues, and illegal constructions beaches are facing several

threats therefore it is also necessary to awake nearby populations and other

stakeholders about the importance of beaches and its sustainable uses

It is also necessary to make aware about the do and do not at the beaches to the

traveller and other public who visits the beaches for recreational purposes.

Beach conservation in the State requires joint efforts therefore it is essential to

create an effective impact over the various stake holders to join hands in its

conservation by way of an appropriate communication means.

4. Clean Beach Campaign – 2012 – 13.

Considering the importance of beaches and requirement to initiate the campaign to

generate mass awareness among the all stakeholders, Forest & Environment

Department, Government of Gujarat has approved the project on clean beach campaign

over the coastline of Gujarat with total outlay of Rs. 37.50 lac. Main aim of the project is

to establish new initiatives towards awareness creation among the local stakeholders

on the importance of beach cleanliness to maintain its aesthetic value. The Forests &

Environment Department, Government of Gujarat and Gujarat Ecology Commission

have taken measures to reduce ecological and anthropogenic threats to coastal

environment. ‘Clean Beach Campaign’ comprises of various action oriented programmes

and awareness activities like a cleanliness drive, displaying hoardings over the beaches

with effective messages, distribution of leaflets etc by involving visitors/tourists, NGOs,

eco-clubs, schools etc. Objective of this campaign are as following:

Promote the importance of having clean, healthy and well-managed beaches.

Improve the living environment of Gujarat coast through greater public

awareness towards beach cleanliness.


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Develop beach/coast based tourism activities

Conserve and preserve marine life

Engage in activities to remove litter on beaches

Identify the source of the debris and initiate activities/campaign to bring

behaviour changes

To achieve the objectives, GEC team identified and surveyed 20 potential beaches along

the Gujarat Coast namely; Umargaon, Nargol, Tithal (Valsad), Dandi (Navsari),

Ubharat, Kuda, Koliya, Zanjhmer, Gopnath, Mahua, Madhavpur, Porbandar,

Mandavi (Kutch), Shivrajpur, Dwarka, Beyt-Dwarka, Somnath, Narara, Harshad,

Veraval and Ahmedpur (Mandavi).

Fig. 1 - Beaches of Gujarat

Based on survey, GEC published comprehensive report namely “Coastline of Gujarat”

gives a holistic view of 20 beaches of Gujarat. It includes information regarding

administrative details, history, social angle and livelihood activities, presence of flora

and fauna, its potential to become a notable tourist destination, anthropogenic and

natural threats, responses, recommended management practices and key output of the

consultation. Based on the report, GEC selected 6 major beaches for conducting Clean

Beach Campaign as shown in below table.


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Sr. No. Beach Selected for Campaign District 1 Tithal Valsad 2 Ubharat Surat 3 Porbandar Porbandar 4 Dwarka Jamnagar 5 Somnath Veraval 6 Mandavi Kutch

2. Campaign included:

Cleanliness Drive through involvement of eco-clubs, NGOs, local vendors,

National Social Service etc.

Hoardings and Display Boards: GEC put up hoardings at all the 20 surveyed

beaches having messages of Do’s and Dont’s. Size of the hoarding is 15 ft x 8 ft.

Total cost of contract for displaying hoardings was Rs.10.97 lacs.

Hoardings and Display Boards

Hoardings at Gopnath in Mahuva block Hoardings at Devbhumi Dwarika

Hoadings at Dandi - Navsari


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Do’s Don’ts

Put all the waste in the dustbin.

Avoid using plastics, as it is non – biodegradable and causes pollution. Instead use materials like clay, paper, cloth etc.

Carry bags to put the trash Avoid feeding marine creatures; your food may harm them.

Carry drinking water along, save your money and help reduce literacy.

Dumping waste on the beach or in the Sea.

It is home to a variety of marine flora and fauna.

Offerings made to God should be at the place of worship not at the beach or in the Sea.

Walk an inch more but make sure you find a dustbin for dumping

Make use of “Pay and Use” facilities.

Distribution of T-shirts for promoting the campaign: Total 1000 nos of T-

shirts prepared for promoting the campaign and distributes among the

participants who took part in the campaign. Total cost of the contract for T-shirt

was Rs. 3,24,000/-.

Dissemination of leaflets/posters/brochures: GEC has prepared and

distributed 10,000 leaflets to all possible stakeholders.

3. Mascot of ‘Clean Beach Campaign’.

It is chosen as the mascot for ‘Clean Beach Campaign’ as our beaches have to be

preserved, and catered to just like the Green Sea Turtles. Green Sea Turtle is listed as an

endangered species, and hence, is an asset to the beaches of Gujarat. Mascot was reviled

by the then Minister, Forests & Environment Department, Shri Mangubhai Patel in

Tithal, Valsad on 16th September, 2012.


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4. About the Campaign:

To promote the Campaign and to run the campaign at least for the 3 to 4 months after

lunching, GEC undertook all the campaigns in association with local partners for

ensuring the involvement of local stakeholders, colleges and local civic authorities.

Motive of the campaign is to in still a sense of keeping the beaches clean. Details of the

campaign are as follow:

TITHAL - VALSAD

The first campaign was launched on 16th September, 2012 by the then Minister, Forests

& Environment Department,

Shri Mangubhai Patel in Tithal,

Valsad in association with the

local level NGO namely Shree

Mahima Gram Vikas Sansthan,

Shree Swaminarayan Temple,

Tithal and Tithal Gram

Panchayat. Local

stakeholders, vendors, school

and college students,

Panchayat members, Saints of

the Swaminarayan Temple etc.

were presented during the campaign. The Minister explained the importance about the

beach cleanliness and need of conservation of the beauty of beach. All were involved in

cleanliness drive at the beach. Students and local stakeholders were very actively

participated in this campaign.

Leaflets of Clean the Beach Campaign


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Comprehensive Report on Coastline of Gujarat

Mascot of ‘Clean the BEACH Campaign’

Dustbin Dristibution to Local Vendor


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Cleanliness Drive on the Beach Area

Dustbin Dristibution to Local Vendor


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MANDAVI - KACHCHH

Forest & Environment Minister, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Govind Bhai Patel

launched the campaign at Mandavi in Kachchh District on 29th March, 2012. The

campaign was organized in association with the Kutch Forest Division. More than 250

students, local beach vendors, staff of the forest division, local level nature clubs,

Mandavi Nagar Palika were actively involved in this campaign. Activities like Cycle

Rally, plantation drive, cleanliness drive, distribution of leaflets, T-Shrits and caps for

the participants, putting down 10 big dust bins at the beach and distribution of 30 small

dust bins among the beach vendors had carried out during the campaign.

Cycle Rally to create Awareness


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Inaugural by Shri Govindbhai Patel, Hon. Minister

Dustbin Distribution


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PORBANDAR

Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, livestock, Fisheries, Government of

Gujarat, Shri Babubhai Bokhariya launched the campaign at Porbandar on 30th March,

2012 in association with the Botany Department, M.D. Science College, Porbandar.

During the campaign, more than 500 students, cleaners of Nagar Palika, Nature clubs

members, College Staff etc were participated. Activities like distribution of leaflets, Rally

with displaying messages, distribution on more than 10,000 leaflets along with the

newspaper (Copy of the leaf late is enclosed herewith), distribution of more than 2500

broachers among the visitors and local people, distribution of T-shirts among

participants, Cleanliness drive in association with the students, coast guards, cleaners of

Porbandar Nagar Palika and press releases in local newspapers had been carried out.

This campaign runs for 6 months after the launch. All the participants and local

stakeholders involved enthusiastically and successfully ran the campaign.

Tree Plantation by Smt. Poonamben Jaat, Member of Parliament, Kachchh district.

Inaugural by Shri Babubhai Bokhiriya, Hon. Minister


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Leaflet Distribution

Rally to Create Awareness


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UBHARAT - NAVSARI

GEC conducted campaign in association with the Ubharat Gram Panchayat on 20th April,

2013. Gram Panchayat constituted a local level committee for maintaining and looking

after the beach. During the campaign, activities like distribution of 40 dust bins among

vendors, distributions of leaflets, cleanliness drive along with local stake holders,

visitor, and members of Gram Panchayat had been carried out.


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SOMNATH - VERAVAL

GEC launched the campaign in association with the Somanath Temple Trust on 26th

May, 2013. More than 500 people had been present during the campaign. Managing

Director of Somnath Temple Trust and Dr. A. P. Singh, IFS, Director (I/C), GEC had

launched the campaign at Somnath. Activities like distribution of more than 50 dust bins

among the local vendors, cleanliness drive, T-shirt distribution, distribution of leaflets,

and exhibition on importance of beach conservation.


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DEVBHUMI DWARIKA

Campaign launched in association with the Marine National Park & Sanctuary, Jamnagar

on 21st September,2013. Campaign launched by the Chief Conservator of Forests, MNP

& S and Commanding Officer, Indian Coast Guard. TATA Chemicals LTD.also associated

in the campaign and actively participated. The campaign runs for 3 days at Dwarka,

Beyt-Dwarka, Mithapur and Narara. School students, employees of MNP & S, Employees

of TATA Chemicals LTD, Coast Guards were enthusiastically in cleanliness drive. Drive

conducted at the Ghomati Ghat, Bhadkeshwar Temple, the beach of Dwarka, Narara and

Mithapur beach. Activities like Rally by school students, T-shirt and dust bins

distributions among vendors and school students, distributions of leaflets had been

conducted.


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Campaign ran for 3 to 4 months at all the places in association with the local level

partners and they all have been successfully completed the campaign.

5. Funds allotted to the local level partners by GEC:

GEC received Rs.37.50 lac under the State budget- 2012-13 for conducting Clean Beach

Campaign along the Gujarat Coast. Out of Rs. 37.50 lacs. GEC has allotted funds to the

local level partners for organizing the campaign on running the campaign. Details of the

funds allotted to the partners are as follow:

Sr. No. Name of the local Partner Amount in Rs.

1 Gram Panchayat – Tithal & Shree Mahima Gram Vikas Sansthan

2,50,000.00

2 Kutch Forest Division 5,00,000.00 3 M. D. Science College, Porbandar 4,75,000.00 4 Ubharat Gram Panchayat, Ubharat 3,00,000.00 5 Somnath Temple Trust, Somnath 1,00,400.00 6 Marine National Park & Sanctuary, Jamnagar 3,00,000.00

Total 16,25,400.00


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6. Establishment of Institutional Mechanism:

The suitable institutional mechanism has been also been established at each place. In Ubhrat the

Gram Panchayat has formed the sub-committee [this committee is having members from

Panchayat, vendors etc] for beach management, they are collecting the entry fees and from the

income the vendor is being cleaning the beach. Similarly at Porbandar the Science collage is

partner they have collaborated with Municipality, District revenue office and Forest Department

to carry forward this activity on regular basis. At Mandavi the forest department has tied up

with Municipality for taking up these activities further. At Somnath the Temple Trust itself with

the help of their own employee and other voluntary and Government organization are taking

forward this initiative. At Dwarika Marine National Park & Sanctuary with the help of Tata

Chemical, Dwarika Temple Trust and Dwarika Municipality and other voluntary organisation

taking up this initiative further.

C BEACH CAMPAIGN Year: 2012 - 13gujenvis.nic.in/GEC stories/Clean the Beach Campaign.pdfsensitive area in the CRZ notification 2011. The beaches are harbouring variety of biodiversity

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