Vijayawada /Visakhapatnam - Indian News Times -Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Hyderabad, in association with the Andhra University and Vignana Bharati (VIBHA) has launched the pilot phase of the NIRMaL sāgar programme (National Initiative for Remediation of Marine Litter), a clean ocean initiative to establish the first integrated marine litter tracking framework in Visakhapatnam on 19th September 2026 (Saturday), the concluding day of the week-long Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 5.0 campaign in an assembly arranged in Andhra University Auditorium in RK Beach. The pilot program was inaugurated by the Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences in the presence of Shri. M. Shribharat Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Visakhapatanam and several other dignitaries.
In his welcome address, Dr. T. M. Balakrishnan Nair, Director, INCOIS informed that by combining ocean modelling, satellite remote sensing, and AI/ML-based tools, the programme will identify marine litter hotspots, monitor, and forecast to support targeted clean-up and mitigation efforts. Aligned with the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar mission and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, NIRMAL sāgar aims to provide scientific inputs for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient ocean, promote community participation, and policy support.
In the special address, Shri. M. Sribharat, Hon’ble MP of Visakhapatanam requested the technology and logistics support of the MoES to ensure that the plastic waste does not reach our oceans through open drains.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Earth Sciences addressed the gathering via video conferencing. He thanked all the volunteers and officials in realising the dream of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sri. Narendra Modiji for an Swatchh Sagar and Surakshit Sagar.
In his inaugural address, Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, MoES reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry towards nurturing cleaner and healthier oceans through various schemes and projects. He also promised the support of the MoES to Visakhapatanam towards such objectives through the implementation of the programs like NIRMaL sagar. In this pilot phase, extensive scientific studies will be conducted in and around Visakhapatnam to identify the sources of the marine plastic litter, track their movement, identify potential regions of their accumulation and develop strategies to remove them and recycle the plastic waste to support circular economy.
Shri. Sribharat, Hob’ble MP administered the Swatchh Sagar Surakshit Sagar pledge to the audience.
Prof. G. P. Raja Sekhar, Hon’ble Vice Chancelor of Andhra University, Shri. G. Sreenivasa Rao, Joint Secretary, MoES, Rear Admiral Gokul Krishna Datta VSM, Chief Staff Officer, Southern Naval Command, Inspector General Anurag Kaushik, TM, Chief of Staff, HQ Coast Guard Commander and Shri. Vivekananda Pai, Secretary, VIBHA attended the program. Over 1300 participants, including personals from Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Andhra University, Fishermen Communities, scientists and students from various institutes and general public attended and shared their thoughts on the issue of marine litter. The meeting ended with Vote of Thanks proposed by Prof. Sailaja, Director, Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies in Andhra University.
The participants formed a human chain to promote the awareness on the ‘Swatchh Sagar Surakshit Sagar’ initiative in the RK Beach road after the event. Volunteers also carried out cleaning of RK Beach in connection with the SSSS-5.0 after the public meeting. In association with the event, Platypus Escapes, conduced an underwater cleanup off Visakhapatanam Beach on 18th September, Friday.
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