More

    High quantities of marine litter noticed during monsoon, minister tells Rajya Sabha

    CountriesIndiaHigh quantities of marine litter noticed during monsoon, minister...
    - Advertisment -

    High quantities of marine litter noticed during monsoon, minister tells Rajya Sabha

    Research by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) has established the spread of marine litter along entire water column and sediment.

    Scientists at the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) have observed high quantities of marine litter along entire water column and sediment along the Indian coasts and adjacent seas during monsoon. The litter arrives through creeks, rivers and estuaries by rainwater.

    This finding follows initiating of monitoring of temporal and spatial distribution of marine litter along the Indian coasts and adjacent seas. Studies have been conducted covering nine coastal states, and union territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.

    This information was provided by the minister of state for Earth Sciences and the ministry of science and technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

    - Advertisement -

    The minister said that several studies have been undertaken to map the litter which is an important component for a policy paper.

    However, Dr Jitendra Singh said there is a dearth of data on marine litter sources, pathways, transport processes, and quantification of the amount of litter entering the marine environment.

    During 2018, 2019, and 2021, the National Centre for Coastal Research has undertaken beach clean-up activities, awareness programmes, and beach litter quantification studies.

    An array of litter

    The studies on the effect of various beach activities on marine litter and microplastics distribution and characterization were also carried out at selected beaches along the southeast coast of India.

    Micro-plastic studies in the coastal water and offshore sediment were carried out along the east coast of India to identify major plastic accumulation zones and the data has been published, Dr Singh said.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the waste found on the shores of the coastal states include plastic wastes, including single use of plastics bottles, food wrappers, cutlery items and polythene bags; fishing nets, glass (liquor bottles); rubber (footwear); clothes, including face masks and discards from religious activities, paper, metals and even diapers besides household materials.

    He said that a framework for a clean ocean mission, the Swachhata Sagar has been prepared by the ministry of earth sciences. This mission will be part of the larger Swachhata Action Plan.

    To understand the effect of different types of polymers (microplastics) on fisheries and biota, organisations attached to the ministry have undertaken research to estimate the level of contamination.

     

    Image: UNEP

    - Advertisement -

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Latest news

    World-Class Education Key to Making India a Developed Nation by 2047: NITI Aayog

    The report is based on extensive discussions with state government officials from over 20 states and union territories, vice-chancellors and senior academics from 50 SPUs, and chairpersons of several state higher education councils.

    Google’s Willingness to Develop AI for Weapons Raises Concerns: Human Rights Watch

    Google’s revised Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy signals a worrying shift in the company’s stance on the development of AI for military applications, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned.

    In the Lok Sabha: Government Committed to Addressing Climate Change, Says Minister

    The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched several schemes targeting pollution control, afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource management.

    Closing in on an End to Plastic Pollution

    We need to think innovatively regarding chemicals of concern, taking inspiration from existing agreements that protect us from harmful chemicals.
    - Advertisement -

    WFP, FAO Warn of the Severity of the Climate Crisis and Food Insecurity

    Global temperatures are likely to reach 2°C by 2045. It is estimated that this will trigger a rise in sea levels by several meters, the melting of polar caps, and irreversible damage to critical ecosystems around the world.

    The Challenge of the “Carbon Aristocracy”

    According to Oxfam, the world’s richest 1 per cent are responsible for 15 per cent of global emissions. This class is mostly made up of millionaires, who now total nearly 60 million globally and are projected to grow in number to over 65 million by 2028

    Must read

    World-Class Education Key to Making India a Developed Nation by 2047: NITI Aayog

    The report is based on extensive discussions with state government officials from over 20 states and union territories, vice-chancellors and senior academics from 50 SPUs, and chairpersons of several state higher education councils.

    Google’s Willingness to Develop AI for Weapons Raises Concerns: Human Rights Watch

    Google’s revised Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy signals a worrying shift in the company’s stance on the development of AI for military applications, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned.
    - Advertisement -

    More from the sectionRELATED
    Recommended to you