India-Germany Agreement To Prevent Plastic Waste Entering Oceans

India has joined hands with Germany to establish an efficient system that ensures no waste finds its way into rivers or seas. The project, aimed at enhancing practices to prevent plastic accumulation in oceans that is adversely affecting marine ecosystems, will be und

BY Realty Plus
Published - Wednesday, 21 Apr, 2021

India-Germany Agreement To Prevent Plastic Waste Entering Oceans

India has joined hands with Germany to establish an efficient system that ensures no waste finds its way into rivers or seas. The project, aimed at enhancing practices to prevent plastic accumulation in oceans that is adversely affecting marine ecosystems, will be undertaken at the national level, select states (Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman Nicobar Islands) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port Blair for a period of three and a half years. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety signed an agreement on Technical Cooperation titled 'Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment' , This project is envisaged under the contours of the Joint Declaration of Intent regarding cooperation in the field of 'Prevention of Marine Litter' signed between the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Germany in 2019. The project, aimed at enhancing practices to prevent plastic from entering the marine environment, will be undertaken at the national level (at MoHUA), select states (Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port Blair for a period of three and a half years. Marine litter threatens ecosystems and adversely affects fishery and tourism industries around the globe. In addition to negative economic impact, it affects public health with increased concerns about micro-plastic and the risk of particles entering the food chain. In recent times, the level of plastic waste that has accumulated in our oceans and marine ecosystems through the increased production and use of durable synthetic materials has alarmed the public and policymakers alike. It is estimated that 15-20% of all plastics are entering oceans via riverine ecosystems of which 90% are contributed by 10 of the world's most polluting rivers. Two of these river systems are located in India, namely Ganga and Brahmaputra.