Africa-Press – Mauritius. A beach and lagoon cleaning activity was organised, yesterday, by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change and the Beach Authority, in collaboration with the High Commission of the Republic of India, on the Flic-en-Flac public beach, in the context of India’s G20 Presidency.
Simultaneously, a G20 Mega Beach Clean Up event was held in Mumbai, yesterday, to kick off the Third Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting, under the India G20 Presidency.
The beach cleaning campaign initiative also took place across more than 30 beaches in India, in G20 nations, and in countries invited by India as guests for the G20 summit 2023.
The objective was to raise awareness about the growing problem of coastal and marine pollution and promote robust community engagement. In accordance with the ‘G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter’, the G20 countries had committed to reduce, reuse, and recycle trash rather than dumping same in the ocean.
The Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano, and the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Mr Vimarsh Aryan, hence, joined some 100 Mauritians and members of the Indian Diaspora in Mauritius in the beach and lagoon cleaning activity in Flic-en-Flac, yesterday.
In his address for the occasion, Minister Ramano stated that protecting and preserving the environment, including our coastal areas, was one of the main priorities of Government. He informed that the implementation of Phase One of the Beach Management Plan had been completed in Mont Choisy, Belle Mare and Flic-en-Flac.
The Beach Management Plan provides a framework and guidelines regarding the management and upgrading of public beaches in line with Government’s endeavour to protect preserve and conserve coastal beaches while ensuring the comfort, security and safety of beachgoers.
According to Mr Kavydass Ramano, other regions were being identified, under the Beach Management Plan, for the execution of the necessary coastal infrastructure works so as to upgrade the public beaches with relevant amenities.
He mentioned thus the setting up of dedicated areas for swimming, camping, economic operators and recreational activities in the interest of beachgoers and the sustainable use of local beaches.
For his part, the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius underlined that the G20 nations comprised 45% of the world coastlines and 21% of Exclusive Economic Zones.
Mr Aryan stated that the cleaning event aimed at sensitising people not only in Mauritius, but also in the G20 nations and in the nine countries invited in G20 summit 2023 in India. It is recalled that the Republic of India is assuming Presidency of the G20 for one year from 1st December 2022 to 30th November 2023.
Mauritius has been invited by the Government of India as guest country for the G20 Summit during its presidency, including the G20 Leaders’ Summit at the level of Heads of State/Government, scheduled on 09 and 10 September 2023 in New Delhi.
Mauritius has already participated in several initiatives, including the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting held in New Delhi, the First Sherpa Meeting held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and the First Development Working Group Meeting held in Mumbai.
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