Estonian Combing Machines Set To Rejig Chennai Beach Cleaning
Chennai: Chennai’s 13-kilometre-long urban coastline, stretching from Ennore in the north to Uthandi in the south, will undergo a major transformation with the commissioning of 22 mechanized beach dredging machines imported from Estonia. The machines were purchased under the ‘Namakku Naame’ scheme to clean popular spots like Marina, Besant Nagar, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and other beaches under Greater Chennai Corporation limits.
The machines feature a hopper with a capacity of more than 2 cubic meters and a minimum cleaning width of 7 feet. They are capable of clearing approximately six acres of sand per hour, operating at speeds of up to 15 km per hour. The process involves the machine working like a sieve along the beach, trapping debris in the hopper and allowing finer sand to fall back through the holes. Collected waste can be hydraulically dumped into a truck or container up to 9 feet high. GCC officials said the accompanying tractors are four-wheel drive models equipped with GPS and fuel monitoring systems.
According to Gulf Cooperation Council Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran, the beach dredgers have arrived in Chennai. He said it is more efficient at collecting waste and will be put into operation this weekend.
The move is part of Chennai’s initiative to transform its beaches into eco-friendly areas and potentially work towards ‘Blue Flag Certification’ for certain areas. This is also an attempt to address chronic beach pollution while balancing environmental protection and public use.
Designed specifically for environmentally responsible coastal cleaning, Estonian beach dredgers can sift sand to remove litter while allowing natural sediments to remain largely intact. Unlike traditional heavy machinery, these units are designed to minimize damage to dune systems and microfauna.
According to officials, each machine can clean several kilometers of beach per day, removing waste buried up to a few centimeters below the surface. Manual workers often overlook these wastes. This is especially important in Chennai, where plastic fragments often mix with wet sand and seaweed.
The machines are expected to operate early in the morning and late in the evening to avoid heavy public use and reduce disturbance to beachgoers and wildlife.
The decision to cover the entire Ennore-Uthandi region reflects the shift from piecemeal cleanup to corridor-based coastal management. While northern beaches like Ennore face industrial pollution and coal residue, central beaches struggle with urban crowds, especially on weekends. Southern regions are affected by the activities of resorts and uncontrolled garbage dumping.
“Beach cleaning in Chennai has long relied on manual laborers working barefoot under the harsh sun. Sanitary workers were often exposed to broken glass, medical waste and hazardous debris washed ashore. Mechanization will significantly reduce direct human contact with hazardous materials, improving job safety. It will also allow workers to focus on sorting and monitoring rather than collecting garbage,” said beachgoer SK Sivaramakrishnan.
