Mumbai: Plastic-trapping barriers will be deployed at the Malad and Trombay waterways, which are expected to recover between 61 and 92 tonnes of plastic annually once fully operational. The first phase of deployment will be in monsoon 2026.
The deployment is part of a collaboration between Netherlands-based non-profit The Ocean Cleanup, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The initiative aims to prevent large volumes of plastic waste from entering the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, the PR department of the MPCB confirmed.
A research by The Ocean Cleanup indicates that nearly 80 per cent of marine litter along India’s coastline is made up of plastic. A survey conducted by the organisation estimates that Mumbai releases around 5 million kg of plastic waste into marine waters every year. This pollution impacts about 220 km of coastline, 152 sq km of mangroves, 107 protected species and nearly 1.9 million livelihoods dependent on coastal and marine ecosystems. Urban runoff, industrial discharge and inadequate waste management practices have been identified as the primary sources of plastic leakage.
"Mumbai will witness the deployment of barriers to stop the flow of plastic waste into the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The first deployments will focus on the Trombay and Malad waterways, identified through a data-driven analysis as major contributors to ocean-bound plastic waste,” the organisation said in a statement.
"With such a large proportion of plastic on India’s coasts, stopping waste before it reaches the ocean is crucial in safeguarding the ocean against plastic pollution,” it said, adding that Mumbai has been identified as a priority intervention point under the organisation’s 30 Cities Programme.
Also Watch:
Research by The Ocean Cleanup shows that just 1,000 of the world’s nearly 3 million rivers account for about 80 per cent of plastic emissions into the ocean. Through the 30 Cities Programme, the organisation aims to cut one-third of global river-based plastic emissions by targeting the most polluting urban waterways worldwide, with Mumbai emerging as one of the key focus areas due to the scale of plastic leakage and its impact on local communities and ecosystems.
To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
