At 74, he walks, cleans Chitrapur Beach for 3 hours every day

MANGALURU

: While several organisations have volunteered to be part of the beach cleaning drives on Karnataka’s coast, 74-year-old Gopal K Baliga, a yoga instructor, is an inspiration to all. Upset over plastic litter, water and glass bottles on the beach, Gopal, who walks for 90 minutes on the beach in the morning and evening, has been collecting trash every day.

Gopal worked in private sector companies, including banks in Mumbai and Delhi. He hails from the district. He decided to return to Mangaluru, two months ago, after almost 50 years. After retirement, he has been volunteering as an instructor for Shivananda Yoga, a centre in Kerala’s Kasaragod district. However, he was forced to take a break due to the pandemic.

He told TOI, “Coastal Karnataka has the most beautiful beaches, much better than the ones in Goa. If only people here realise the value of this beach, they would take care to maintain it. I go about picking up whatever trash I find on my walks on the beach, twice a day. I thought this is the best I can do, by doing it bit by bit, rather than blaming others. I get immense satisfaction in cleaning the beach, and it is also physical activity that helps me to stay fit. If this inspires others, particularly local residents, then I am the happiest person,” he said.

Last week, he participated in the beach clean drive organised by

Clean Kundapur

, and was happy to be with a group of over 50 highly motivated people. He said, on an average, he collects about two full sacks of mostly plastic trash and glass bottles, and leaves it at a spot, so that

the Mangaluru City Corporation

staff can collect it. “Sometimes, glass bottles are too heavy to carry around, and hence I pile it up and keep it in one place. The government should consider introducing a carbon tax on liquor companies, so that empty bottles are collected scientifically,” he added.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had popularised plogging during his visit to a beach in

Mamallapuram

in Tamil Nadu.

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