Mumbai, Sept. 18 -- Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday participated in the 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' coastal cleanup campaign at Juhu Beach in Mumbai, on the eve of International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said International Coastal Cleanup Day is observed globally every year on the third Saturday of September and India began observing it during 2021-22.

He said India has a coastline spanning around 11,000 to 12,000 kilometres, with around 12 to 13 states and Union Territories located along the coast, and stressed the need to raise awareness about keeping the country's coastlines clean.

Singh said the Deep Ocean Mission was launched after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement from the Red Fort an...