Sat Sep 20 15:54:08 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Hundreds of volunteers participated in a beach cleanup drive at Padukare Beach in Kota-Manoor, India, to commemorate International Beach Clean-up Day. The event was organized by local organizations and the Kota Gram Panchayat. MLA A. Kiran Kumar Kodgi highlighted the dangers of plastic waste to both marine life and human health, urging for reduced plastic usage. Members of various local organizations and educational institutions joined the effort, with environmental awareness messages and pledges also being delivered.

**News Article:**

**Padukare Beach Cleans Up, Faces Plastic Waste Threat**

**Mangaluru, September 20, 2025:** Hundreds of volunteers descended upon Padukare Beach in Kota-Manoor today to participate in a large-scale cleanup drive, marking International Beach Clean-up Day. The initiative, organized by local organizations and the Kota Gram Panchayat, aimed to combat the growing threat of plastic pollution impacting the region’s coastline.

Kundapur MLA A. Kiran Kumar Kodgi, who inaugurated the event, emphasized the critical need to address plastic waste, citing its detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and human health. “Excessive use of plastic is polluting the environment and creating serious health problems,” he stated. “Marine creatures are suffering and diseases are spreading due to this lifestyle. It is important for everyone to become aware of the danger it poses to the natural environment and to the society and reduce plastic usage.”

Volunteers from Panchavarna Yuvaka Mandala, Panchavarna Mahila Mandala, Geethananda Foundation, Ashrita Educational Institutions, Handattu Mahila Balaga, Manoor Friends, JCI Kota Senior Legion, and other local groups contributed to the effort, removing significant amounts of trash from the beach.

In addition to the cleanup, the event featured an environmental awareness pledge led by Ajith Achar, former president of Panchavarna, and a message from Geethananda Foundation promoter Anand C. Kundar regarding the importance of cleanliness.

Kota Panchayat vice-president Pandu Poojary, Panchavarna Yuvaka Mandala president Manohar Poojary, Mahila Mandala president Lalitha Poojary and other dignitaries were also in attendance, underscoring the community’s commitment to environmental protection. The cleanup serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by plastic pollution and the importance of collaborative efforts to preserve India’s coastal ecosystems.

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