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Large fish falling prey to plastic waste

Tuesday, 06 April 2010 04:39 administrator
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The Hindu 06.04.2010

Large fish falling prey to plastic waste

Santosh Patnaik

‘Dumping of industrial effluents into the sea is also a matter of concern'

 

Several chemical units shifting their operations from Patancheru to Vizag

Fishermen allege depletion of catch due to industrial pollution and plastic dumping

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Revolting sight:Plastic material along with sewage water being let out into the sea from a huge drain at Scandal Point near Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Ocean dumping of plastics has turned into a serial killer for several marine species particularly large fish like sharks and dolphins all along the North Andhra Coast.

The indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste, thermo coal plates and other items are swallowed by large fishes mistaking it as prey. Within the abdomen it will not degrade causing life-threatening infections.

“Fish consuming plastic material die soon. After death, they release into ocean waters thermo coal, carry bags, polystyrene cups and other non-degradable waste after scavenging fish consume them. In the process, other fish consume them. The cycle continues killing more and more fish,” E.U.B. Reddy, professor in environmental sciences in Andhra University, told The Hindu on Monday.

On finding of dead fish in large numbers in the coast near Tikkavanipalem, Bhimunipatnam and other areas, he said dumping of industrial effluents into the sea was also a matter of serious concern.

Several chemical units, which are shifting their operations from Patancheru to Visakhapatnam find it convenient to dump effluents indiscriminately into the sea despite on-record claim on release of treated effluents, he alleged.

“Death of young fish is also occurring due to release of seawater after use by a coal-fired thermal plant – which raises the water temperature by six degree centigrade. The hot water expels dissolved oxygen in water as a result marine life in the area will suffer oxygen deficiency,” Prof. Reddy says.

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a report released sometime ago had pointed out that popular varieties of fish consumed locally and exported to Kolkata and other markets were laced with high quantity of mercury affecting human health.

Fishermen are also complaining of becoming victims due to alarming level of ocean pollution. “We used to get assured catch between Pudimadaka and Annavaram about five years ago. Now none is venturing to fish in that area due to depletion in catch, thanks to industrial effluents and plastic dumping,” points out Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy, president, Dolphin Boat Operators' Welfare Association.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 April 2010 04:46
 

Govt to propose amendment for on-the-spot penalty on plastic use

Friday, 26 March 2010 11:16 administrator
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Indain Express 26.03.2010

Govt to propose amendment for on-the-spot penalty on plastic use

Neha Sinha Tags : plastic ban, delhi Posted: Friday , Mar 26, 2010 at 0250 hrs

New Delhi: To impose on-the-spot penalty for using plastic bags, the Delhi government is all set to approach the Cabinet for an amendment in the Delhi Degradable Plastic Bag and Garbage (Control) Act.

While there is a ban on the use or sale of plastic bags in the city — except for the biodegradable plastic bags in certain commercial areas — penalties have been abysmally low so far.

At present, the penalty for using plastic bag is imposed by courts under the Environment Protection Act, which has been a slow process to prevent offences. The move aims to penalise offences immediately and move away from court-based penalties.

The Degradable Plastic Bag and Garbage (Control) Act is likely to register more offences, but attract lesser punishment than that under the Environment Protection Act, which has a maximum penalty of Rs 1 lakh and/or five years in jail.

“We would like to empower officials to award penalities immediately as and when a violation is recorded. The process of going through court-based prosecutions has been slow. We are proposing this amendment so that challans can be issued faster,” a senior official of Environment department said.

The last amendment to the Delhi Degradable Plastic Bag and Garbage Act was made in 2008, when it was decided that first-time offences would invite up to Rs 1,000 fine, and second time penalty Rs 5,000. The government is likely to stand by these penalties for people caught using plastic bags, while those selling them will get harsher punishment.

Till now, 164 violations have been recorded in courts under the Environment Protection Act, a figure which is disproportionate to the huge number of violations observed. Further, violations have been recorded for shopkeepers only.

The proposed amendment will go to the Chief Minister and then to the Cabinet for approval.

In a separate development, a new report by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on measures to be taken for managing solid waste in the country has made a strong case for plastic manufacturers to pay for plastic waste management. The Delhi government had said it would consider the “polluter pays” principle.

Ministry pushes for regulation of plastic bags
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, in a new report, has made a case for regulation of plastic and banned plastic bags. The report calls for Indian standards to be established for structures made from post-consumer plastic. “For instance, PVC-woven sacs, HDPE and other mixed plastics are used to make plastic strapping material often used in airports for strapping baggage. Low quality recycled strapping gives off hydrogen chloride and other hazardous emissions every time the strap is heated. This is also an occupational hazard for those at the baggage screening machines,” the report points out. ENS

Last Updated on Friday, 26 March 2010 11:19
 

India 2012, an e-waste bin

Friday, 19 March 2010 10:58 administrator
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Hindustan Times 19.03.2010

India 2012, an e-waste bin

What a dump, and it is growing by the hour.

Almost 40 per cent of the municipal and plastic waste generated in India is not collected, and half of the organic waste goes untreated.

And then there is the growing problem of electronic waste. By 2012, India will generate the most e-waste in the world, second only to China.

Most cities do not have adequate infrastructure to manage the growing household and plastic rubbish, even though there are technologies available for treatment and reuse.

“There are only 110 facilities in the country for treating hardly 50 per cent of the organic waste generated,” says the environment ministry’s report on Road Map on Management of Waste in India

A committee of the ministry has sought a law for waste-management with punitive action against defaulters. The report call for higher penalty for those failing to properly dispose of municipal garbage.

“Unless the city administrations get serious about waste management, the problem could become a major health risk,” an official, who didn’t wish to be identified, said.

But, it’s the economic growth that poses the biggest challenge — managing e-waste, which can be a discarded refrigerator or end-of-life cellphone or a laptop. By 2012, India will generate over 800,000 million tonne (mt) of e-waste every year.

At present, Mumbai tops the e-waste chart followed by Delhi. Western countries are adding to this mound. The estimate is not known as the ministry believes much of the e–waste is brought in illegally. NGOs such as Toxic Link have raised health concern over US and Europe dumping e-waste in India.

Even though disposing e-waste is defined under Hazardous Waste Management Rules in 2008, most cities don’t have a system to collect and dispose of discarded gadgets.

“Producers should be bound to take back their products after the life of the product is over and to get it recycled/disposed in… without health risks,” says the report released on Thursday.

Poor management of the industry-generated hazardous waste is another worry. Annually 6.2 mt of the waste is generated and 2.1 mt goes untreated. The report talks of 36,000 hazardous waste industries, which include those manufacturing chemicals and plastic.

Indiscriminate disposal has left many places environmentally degraded, says the report.

Seven states — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu — generate 80 per cent of the country’s hazardous waste.

Last Updated on Friday, 19 March 2010 11:08
 
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