National Policy Workshop on Countermeasures for Riverine and Plastic Litter in India

In order to identify a region-based model for monitoring and assessment of plastic leakage and pollution reduction targeting land-based plastic leakage entering waterways such as rivers and canals or drainages to the sea, one-of-a-kind study by National Productivity Council identified about 50 categories of product based plastic litter at hotspots near rivers Ganga and Yamuna and about 40 types of polymer based microplastics in these rivers. There is concern that microplastics could have adverse health effects as they move through the marine food chain.

In order to disseminate findings, NPC under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India is organizing the National Policy Workshop through series of webinar during 12-22 May 2020 comprising of six on-line sessions. This workshop is part of the UNEP lead project “Promotion of countermeasures against marine plastic litter in Southeast Asia and India” funded by the Govt. of Japan. This project targets to identify the countermeasures, which would be utilised as inputs for developing national roadmap and strategy to prevent plastic pollution in the river and Marine Eco-System in India.

The workshop comprises of sessions on science and technology of plastic pollution assessment, community perception and behavioural aspects, plastic waste management through circularity concept, plastic pollution impact on riverine and marine ecosystem, scenario to counter plastic litter. A specific session on plastic waste generation during COVID 19 spread in India has also been organised. This workshop is open to all interested stakeholders who can register at https://www.npcindia.gov.in/NPC/User/unep

To conclude and deliberate the project and workshop outcomes, and potential policy measures & strategy to counter plastic pollution in the river and marine ecosystem, a session for high ranking policymakers has been planned from 4.00 to 5.00 pm on 22nd May 2020 . This session will be chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and will also be participated by senior officials from UNEP and relevant Ministries & Departments.

For more details:

 National Policy Workshop on Countermeasures for Riverine and Plastic Litter in India  Flyer