KOCHI: A cool seaside breeze, changing shades of sunset and hot pegs. This joyous recipe seems to have made the Fort Kochi beach, one of the most sought-after beaches in the state, a haven for drunkards.Proof of this lies in the number of liquor bottles found on the beach by an NGO during a clean-up drive. Eighty per cent of waste dumped at Fort Kochi and the beach consists of liquor bottles, the data prepared by the Kite Life Foundation says. Having participated in the cleaning of Fort Kochi and its beach as part of the international coastal clean up day, the NGO found that 80 per cent of waste collected from the coast comprised liquor bottles, including a huge cache of plastic ones. Though various items were found thrown on the coast, plastic topped the list. Inclusive of the liquor bottles, plastic materials constituted 90 per cent of the waste.The volunteers found plastic bags the most in number irrespective of the category. Other items included cups, broken plates, knives, spoons, food wrappers, wadding, toys and condoms. Interesting to note is the high number of liquor bottles that clearly indicates the growing trend of drinking at public places, that too at tourist hotspots like Fort Kochi. Liquor bottles were found near Dutch Cemetery also, said Rajesh Nair, President of the Kite Life Foundation.Besides making a record of the items, the volunteers have also noted the health hazards posed to humans and wildlife due to them. Rajesh further said that the dust bins filled with waste were being left unattended for several days. Fort Kochi SI Vimal said that there had been a few incidents of public drinking at the beach. “Whenever such a thing has come to our attention, we have taken action. Cases have been registered against such people. The police is present in mufti at the beach, especially during the busy hours during Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
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