State of Plastic Pollution in Pondicherry, India: A Case Study of Auroville Beach

Prime Minister Modi started the Swachh Bharat Mission as a mass movement in 2014. The mission subsequently received a massive response from the people’s side. Swachh Bharat Mission aimed to improve the cleanliness of the Indian cities and villages. Under the Clean India Mission Urban, Puducherry started working for a clean city. As the district Puducherry is home to various beaches and tourist activities, the waste management of such places is essential. Eden Beach of Puducherry has the blue flag, whereas Auroville Beach (AB) comes under the least governed beaches in terms of its waste management. The following study aims to evaluate the people’s attitudes towards plastic pollution in the beach areas. The research is based on the forty-two responses of the participants who visited the AB at least once in recent times. All the participants are students of Pondicherry University. The purpose of the research centred around policy suggestions regarding the plastic and sanitation management of AB. The available literature demonstrates that plastic usage has a massive impact on the livelihood of the local population and the tourist’s preferences. The beach of Auroville has the potential to attract more tourists with the sustainable use of consumer products. Lack of reliable data about the state of pollution causes maladministration, which in turn hampers tourist preferences.