India as a nation is blessed with a beautiful and unique coastline. A coastline which houses several pristine beaches that play a vital role in the ecosystem of the country. Countless marine species, endemic as well as migratory species, depend on India’s coastal waters for their survival. One such a species is the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, that nest in large numbers along the east coast of India.
Chennai’s beaches is one among the several coastal cities that get to witness this arribada of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. Several species of dolphins can be spotted jumping from Chennai’s beaches as well! Owing to rapid urbanization, the city’s beaches have today become a tourist attraction, which has caused countless people to visit these serene beaches. This has thereby increased the amount of waste generated, before and during the time of the COVID pandemic.
In an effort to solve this problem, we at E.F.I have collaborated with the Greater Chennai Corporation and the HCL Foundation to restore and revive Chennai’s coastline. A beach front cleaning effort part of a larger plan to eradicate non degradable trash on beaches between Broken Bridge and Injambakkam.
With the machines procured by the GCC, we have been able to remove several tonnes of non-biodegradable waste from Chennai’s beaches these past weeks!
Stay tuned for more updates on this project!
To know more about E.F.I’s beach conservation efforts, check out indiaoceanproject.com