'Five-star' effort to revamp 22 beaches in Kerala

ALAPPUZHA: A five-member group of friends from Mararikulam has taken up the task of cleaning 22 beaches in Kerala with the aim of making the place scenic and plastic-free. It took the team 28 days to clean Marari Beach in Mararikulam. Kattoor Beach is currently undergoing a cleaning process.

Teacher Nebin Cherian, yoga instructor Maiju Felix, tourism department employee Nitin Joseph, and college employee Thomas Antony decided to volunteer service under the leadership of Edison Antony, a businessman from Alappuzha. Their association is named 'Opulence in Action'.

Edison Anthony came up with such an idea after getting distressed witnessing the plastic waste accumulated in Kuttanadan water bodies. The group now hires workers who do the laborious deed of removing sacks of garbage from the backwaters every day. Anthony was in no financial state to move with the initiative during the Covid times and it was at this moment that he shared his idea with his friends who all gladly acquiesced.

Knowing their mission, Alappuzha District Panchayat provided free gloves and brooms. The organic waste will be buried on the shore itself. The plastic waste will be handed over to the Harithakarma Sena.