As part of the 72nd Wildlife Week-2026 celebrations, the Forest Department organised a large-scale cleanliness drive at the confluence of the Kali river and the Arabian Sea in Karwar on Friday (October 2), removing 1,825 kg of solid waste from the shoreline.

The waste collected during the drive included plastic and glass waste, discarded fishing nets, diapers, sanitary napkins, rubber materials and other solid waste dumped along the coast.

Around 150 Forest Department personnel, 40 members of the Rotary Club and 40 trainees undergoing Agniveer training participated in the campaign and joined hands in cleaning the beach.

Following the cleanliness drive, a rally was organised from the Deputy Commissioner’s office. A public programme was later held at the ‘Vanasiri’ premises as part of the Wildlife Week celebrations.

Deputy Conservator of Forests, Karwar Division, Antony Mariyappa, DFO (Social Forestry) Manjunath Navi, Assistant Conservator of Forests K.D. Nayak, Range Forest Officer, Coastal and Marine Conservation Zone, Gajanan S. Nayak, Rotary Club president Dolrich, Karwar Range Forest Officer Kiran Manavachari and others were present.

The campaign sought to highlight the need to prevent the accumulation of plastic and other solid waste along coastal habitats and protect the fragile marine and coastal ecosystem.