Nagapattinam/Velankanni, Sep03: Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, in collaboration with the Velankanni Special Grade Town Panchayat, the Nagapattinam District Administration, and implementation partner Sangam Pratishthan, inaugurated GreenSweep, a ‘Used PET Bottle-Free Velankanni Festival 2026’ drive under its ‘GreenSweep’ initiative during the annual Velankanni Festival.
The initiative was inaugurated in the presence of Thiru. K. J. Praveen Kumar, I.A.S., District Collector, Nagapattinam; Tmt. A. Diana Sharmila, Chairman, Velankanni Special Grade Town Panchayat; Thiru. Thomas Alva Edison, Vice Chairman, Velankanni Special Grade Town Panchayat; Thiru D. Kaliyaperumal, Special Executive Officer, and Thiru Subramanyam, Sanitary Officer, Thiru. Dr. Pradeep V. Krishna Kumar, MBBS., DPH., DIH., MBA, Deputy Director of Public Health, Nagapattinam District, along with government officials, community members, visitors, and devotees.
The Velankanni Festival, one of the largest cultural gatherings in India, attracts an estimated 30 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad over its 11-day celebration. GreenSweep aims to support responsible used PET bottle collection through a structured collection mechanism and sustained awareness efforts across the festival area.
This drive combines structured collection infrastructure with on-ground awareness efforts to support the responsible collection and recycling of used PET bottles during the festival. More than 30 volunteers and Thooimai Paniyalargal have been deployed at key locations, including Velankanni Arch Junction, Velankanni Beach, and Velankanni Beach Park, where they will encourage devotees and visitors to use designated collection points and participate in source-level segregation. The collected used PET bottles will be channelled through authorised recycling pathways, supporting responsible material management.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Thiru. K. J. Praveen Kumar, I.A.S., District Collector, Nagapattinam, said,
“The Velankanni Festival is among the largest annual gatherings in Tamil Nadu, bringing together lakhs of devotees from across the country and beyond. Managing used PET bottles generated during an event of this scale requires coordinated efforts and active public participation. I appreciate the collaboration between the Velankanni Special Grade Town Panchayat, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Sangam Pratishthan, volunteers, and Thooimai Paniyalargal (sanitation workers) in strengthening ongoing collection and segregation efforts and encouraging the recycling of used PET bottles. Such initiatives demonstrate how partnerships between government, community organisations, and industry can support effective on-ground collection efforts during large public gatherings and contribute to responsible used PET bottle management.”
Complementing the collection effort, the initiative is leveraging Therukoothu, the traditional Tamil street theatre art form, to take the message of responsible used PET bottle collection directly to residents and devotees. Deeply rooted in Tamil culture and storytelling traditions, Therukoothu offers an engaging and accessible medium for public awareness. Local artists performed during the inauguration and will continue to perform at key locations throughout the festival, encouraging devotees and visitors to participate in the responsible collection and disposal of used PET bottles.
Speaking on the initiative, Komal Ghag Nadar, Secretary, Sangam Pratishthan, said,
“Velankanni’s annual festival brings together people from diverse communities, making it an ideal platform to encourage responsible used PET bottle collection. Through GreenSweep, we are supporting on-ground efforts through volunteer mobilisation, awareness activities, and designated collection points. We are grateful to the Nagapattinam District Administration and the Velankanni Special Grade Town Panchayat for their support, and to Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages for entrusting us with the opportunity to implement this initiative on the ground.”
The initiative also builds on HCCB’s broader presence and community engagement in Tamil Nadu, where the company operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Nemam in Tiruvallur district. Through its flagship community partnership programme, Project SHINE, HCCB continues to support a range of community-focused initiatives across the state, including health and hygiene awareness, waste management, access to safe drinking water, and skill development programmes for women and youth.