6,200 people pick 4,370kg of waste from 19 beaches

Panaji: A massive clean-up effort on Saturday morning saw at least 6,200 volunteers, most of them students, clean up more than 4,370kg of garbage from 19 beaches across the state during the three-hour drive to mark International Coastal Clean-Up Day.Volunteers walked along the beaches of Baina, Bogmalo, Varca, Mobor, Benaulim, Majorda, Velsao, Betalbatim, Colva, Betul, Utorda, Baga, Calangute, Miramar, Siridao, Arambol, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, and Candolim, lifting all kinds of litter.The garbage was handed over to local panchayats and municipalities for disposal at material recovery facilities and sorting centres.The campaign, led by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), was carried out in coordination with state govt and Vibrant Goa.A senior coast guard official said that the trash consisted mainly of plastic such as PET bottles, food packets, and waste left behind by tourists and beachgoers.