Document Fragment View

Matching Fragments

4. Furthermore, the news item emphasizes that the presence of microplastics poses a grave threat to the delicate marine ecosystem, with potential consequences for the countless creatures that call these waters home. It also compromises tourists' safety and health as microplastics can enter the food chain.
5. The news item further explains that microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, originating from stuff like polythene bags, bottles, microbeads in personal care products, cigarette filter tips, synthetic fabrics, vehicle tyres, industrial waste, fishing gear and paints. The study identified polyethylene, a common plastic used in bags and packaging, as the most prevalent type of microplastic. It poses significant risk to marine life because of its abundance and persistence in the environment. Moreover, it is highlighted that marine creatures often mistake microplastics for food, which can cause physical harm, blockages and exposure to toxic chemicals. Fish, sea turtles and seabirds are particularly vulnerable. Microplastics can also carry harmful chemicals absorbed from surrounding water. Tourists and locals in Digha and Puri may also ingest microplastics while having their favourite seafood, leading to potential health issues. Microplastics affect fish reproduction, reducing fish populations and impacting consumers and fishermen. Additionally, uncontrolled tourism development from Haldia to Puri and direct release of industrial effluents into rivers contribute to this problem.

27. The CPCB has also placed on record 'Guidelines for One-Time Financial Support for Establishing Recycling Plants & Machinery for Abandoned, Lost & Discarded Fishing Gears and High Littering Plastic Wastes in Coastal Areas' dated September, 2024. The said guidelines are being extracted hereinbelow in their entirety.

"GUIDELINES FOR ONE-TIME FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ESTABLISHING RECYCLINIX 146 PLANTS & MACHINERY FOR ABANDONED, LOST & DISCARDED FISHING GEARS AND HIGH LITTERING PLASTIC WASTES IN COASTAL AREAS TABLE OF CONTENT S. No. Title Page No. Facilities Evaluation & Approval Guidelines for One-Time Financial Support for Establishing Recycling Plants & Machinery for Abandoned, Lost & Discarded Fishing Gears (ALDFGs) and High littering Plastic Wastes in Coastal Areas A. BACKGROUND Marine litter is defined as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment. Plastic is the most dominant component in marine litter, comprising of fishing nets, plastic packaging and other items that are either deliberately discarded or accidentally lost into the sea or onto beaches. Additionally, plastic materials can be carried indirectly to the sea through rivers, sewage, stormwater or winds. The increasing quantity of plastic waste, combined with the slow degradation of plastic litter, has become a significant environmental concern along the country's extensive coastline.
The quantity of fishing net waste varies in States/ UTs depending on factors such as the size of the fishing industry, the length of the shoreline, and local waste management practices. Further, they are generally replaced every 1-3 months influenced by factors such as rocks, damage due to boats, machine boat impact and interference from crabs and other species.
According to the information submitted in the Annual Report, 2022- 23 by thirteen State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) located in coastal areas, a total. of 2.37 million tonnes of plastic waste was generated in the States/ Union Territories (UTs). According to the data from the Centralized Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal for plastic packaging, a total of 1.63 million tonnes of plastic waste had been recycled till August 2024 in eleven States/ UTs of coastal area. There are total 899 number of plastic waste recycling units in these states/UTs, with the highest number in Gujarat (426), followed by Maharashtra (218) and Karnataka (94).

a) Scope of SPCBs/ PCCs  Once sanctioned, SPCB/PCC shall monitor the progress of the project and ensure its timely completion.

 SPCB/ PCC shall submit stage wise completion! commissioning report to CPCB. Based on satisfaction of completion of work, disbursement as per the instalment may be made by SPCB/PCC to the project proponent and shall intimate the same to CPCB.  Post-commissioning, SPCB/PCC shall periodically monitor the plastic recycling unit to ensure that it is recycling plastic wastes collected from blue flag certified beach and fishing nets/ gears. It can also recycle other plastic wastes available and process waste from fishing net yam subject to availability of the adequate recycling capacity. Additionally, SPCBs shall periodically monitor the unit to verify compliance to relevant provisions under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 including EPR guidelines (as applicable) and amendments from time to time.