By Ibrahim Sesay 

The High Commission of India in Sierra Leone on Thursday September 25, 2025 organized a beach cleaning exercise along Lumley Beach to commemorate ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’, a two-week national cleanliness campaign observed annually in India and abroad.

In his remark, the High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone, Baisnab Charan Pradhan, said the initiative is part of India’s broader national and global campaign to promote cleanliness and environmental protection.

“This is part of India’s national and global campaign to promote cleanliness in our homes and surroundings. The festival is a two-week-long initiative to safeguard our environment,” he said.

The High Commissioner noted that the symbolic exercise was carried out in collaboration with the National Tourist Board, Freetown City Council, Premier Environmental Solutions Limited and the Indian diaspora community in Freetown.

“This is an effort to clean this iconic beach, one of the most important tourist destinations in Freetown. My message to people is to make cleanliness part of their daily lives and volunteer for initiatives such as this one. Keeping our beaches clean is essential for a sustainable ecosystem and for attracting more tourists, which will contribute to the economic growth of the city,” he added.

Mohamed Bah, Planning and Development Officer at the National Tourist Board, emphasized the tourism value of Sierra Leone’s coastline but highlighted challenges of plastic pollution and sewage.

“We have been making this clarion call to other organizations and MDAs to assist in the cleaning of our coastal areas. Strictly speaking, cleaning the beaches does not fall within our mandate but we have been supporting the effort to ensure that our beaches remain tourist attraction sites,” he said.

Mohamed Bah pointed out that poor waste management is a key driver of pollution. “One of the major reasons why our beaches are littered with plastic waste and sewage is the improper disposal of waste. People dump garbage into drainages which eventually ends up in the ocean,” he explained.

Speaking on behalf of the Freetown City Council, Environmental and Sanitation Officer, Marian J. Tucker, stressed the importance of enforcing proper waste management practices. She added that the Council had introduced a new sanitation by-law to clamp down on illegal waste disposal.

She further stated that the city has been divided into eight sanitation blocks, with different service providers responsible for house-to-house waste collection ensuring proper waste management.

Marian J. Tucker called on residents to embrace responsible disposal practices. “Improper waste disposal has a negative impact on the environment. We all have a responsibility to keep our city clean,” she said.

The beach cleaning exercise attracted participation from volunteers, local partners and members of the Indian community, showcasing a shared commitment to protect the environment and promote tourism in Sierra Leone. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/india-high-commission-marks-swachhata-hi-seva-with-lumley-beach-cleanup/