Madurai: Former BJP leader K Annamalai on Sunday launched a year-long drive by his We the Leaders organisation to clean the 175-km coastline between Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi.He joined volunteers in removing waste near the viewing tower on Kanyakumari beach road. The group said more than three tonnes of waste had been collected and loaded onto tractors in the area. Supporters also gathered at the site and took selfies with him.“From today, we have dedicated ourselves to cleaning this entire 175-km coastal stretch over the next year,” Annamalai said. He said the organisation would begin at places that receive more visitors before extending the work to other coastal areas. Dustbins would be installed after the cleaning drives to discourage littering.Annamalai said volunteers would also clean Uvari and Kulasekarapattinam beaches. He said he planned to visit the coastline seven or eight times during the next year and join the work. “When we travel to Singapore, we do not litter. But we throw waste in our own towns. Therefore, the third task is to change our culture,” he said.The organisation plans to conduct environmental programmes across Tamil Nadu during Aug, including cleaning lakes and canals and planting 20 lakh saplings. “This is not a one-day event,” Annamalai said.