Sand artist Sudarsan on dharna, demands beach clean up

Bhubaneswar: Sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik today staged a dharna protesting pollution in Bankimuhan in Puri and demanded immediate steps to clean and revive the beach.

The globally acclaimed sand artist and Padma Shri, on Tuesday, sat on dharna on the beach and said even after repeated requests, the State government has done precious little to redress the issue.

I am protesting (sitting on dharana) through my art against beach pollution at Bankimuhan, #Puri . pic.twitter.com/onKO6bN6BR

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) July 11, 2017

"I had raked up the issue through twitter and approached several concerned officials. The chief minister's office even assured me of prompt action but with a lot of pain I have to say that the issue went unheeded," he alleged.

Even though the beach has turned into a dumping ground, it has failed to get attention. People here are getting vulnerable to infectious diseases with each passing day, added Patnaik.

Also Read: Sudarsan Pattnaik wins gold at Moscow sand art competition

[caption id="attachment_227174" align="aligncenter" width="682"] Bankimuhan in Puri[/caption]

"I will sit on dharna here till the administration launches a cleanliness drive to make the beach pollution free," warned Patnaik.

Requesting the govt to clear its stand soon on Bankimuhan beach Pollution,Otherwise I will sit on Dharna at #Puribeach & protest thru my Art pic.twitter.com/rFWRK9bZTG

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 12, 2017

The sand artist had earlier tweeted that he would sit on dharna on the beach if action is not initiated by the government.