.jpg)
Big Boost to Marine Conservation: Plastic Barriers Coming to Mumbai Waterways
To prevent plastic waste from entering the oceans in Mumbai, The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch organization, will collaborate with the Municipal Corporation of India (MCGM) and the MPCB to install special barriers on the waterways of Malad and Trombay. The goal is to intercept 61-92 tons of plastic waste annually. Five million kilograms of plastic from Mumbai enter the oceans annually, affecting the coastal environment and the livelihoods of millions of people. This technology will be deployed by 2026.
A step in the right direction is being taken to prevent the entry of plastic wastes into the oceans in Mumbai. The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit organization, is planning to place special barriers in the waterways of Malad and Trombay in association with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (MCGM) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
The purpose of these barriers is to trap the plastic waste before it enters the ocean. The two locations will trap 61 to 92 tons of plastic waste annually. This technology is expected to be used in 2026. It is estimated that 80 percent of the trash that is dumped in the ocean and ends up on the Indian coastal areas is plastic.
The project will be implemented in phases. It will be started before the monsoon season. According to The Ocean Cleanup's survey, Mumbai releases approximately 5 million kilograms (5 million kilograms) of plastic waste into the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean each year.
Want to get your story featured as above? click here!
Want to get your story featured as above? click here!
This impacts 220 kilometers of coastline, 152 square kilometers of mangrove area, 107 protected species, and the livelihoods of approximately 1.9 million people who depend on coastal and marine ecosystems. The main sources of plastic waste in Mumbai are urban runoff (rainwater), industrial waste, and lack of waste management.
Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, said that India is a crucial region in the global fight against plastic pollution. He said that it is crucial to stop waste before it reaches the ocean. The organization's research shows that just 1,000 of the world's 3 million rivers are responsible for approximately 80 percent of the plastic that flows into the ocean.
With this in mind, the '30 Cities Program' has been launched. Its goal is to reduce one-third of global plastic waste flowing into the ocean from rivers by working in the world's 30 most polluting urban waterways. Mumbai has been given a prominent place in this program due to the large volume of plastic discharge and its impact on local communities and the environment.
