Puri, Sept. 29 (UDN): Discarded fishing nets and other marine waste collected from the Puri coastline have been transformed into a large-scale art installation, earning a place in the India Book of Records for promoting coastal and marine conservation.
The record, titled “Largest Artistic Display for Coastal and Marine Conservation Awareness,” was achieved by Spandan in partnership with HCL Foundation as part of an initiative to highlight the growing threat posed by marine waste.
The installation was created using waste recovered during a major coastal cleanup drive held at Puri on September 19, coinciding with International Coastal Cleanup Day.
10,000 Kg Of Waste Collected
Around 700 marine activists, volunteers and members of various organisations participated in the cleanup along the Bay of Bengal coast.
The participants included personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, Puri Mahanagar Nigam, women self-help groups, Scouts and Guides, the Puri Cricket Association, members of the Fishery Association and other local volunteers.
The drive resulted in the collection of more than 10,000 kg of solid waste from the beach.
Among the waste were abandoned fishing nets and discarded fishing gear, which can pose significant risks to marine animals and affect coastal ecosystems.
Waste Transformed Into Art
Following the cleanup, the collected material was segregated and handed over for an innovative community art initiative.
Young members of the local community used the discarded materials to create a large artistic installation aimed at drawing attention to marine pollution and the impact of fishing-related waste on marine biodiversity.
The artwork was displayed at Penthakotta in Puri on September 28.
India Book Of Records Recognition
The unique installation was formally recognised by the India Book of Records under the category of “Largest Artistic Display for Coastal and Marine Conservation Awareness.”
India Book of Records adjudicator Sanjay Kumar Bhola attended the event and presented the record recognition to members of the team.
He also appreciated the efforts of Spandan and HCL Foundation in using collected coastal waste to create awareness about marine conservation and the protection of India’s coastal ecosystem.
The initiative has given discarded beach waste a new purpose—turning material that threatened the marine environment into a public artwork carrying a message of conservation.