The National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) has not identified any major microplastic pollution hotspots along the Gulf of Mannar and the Thoothukudi coast, with both regions classified as “moderately clean” under its Clean Coast Index (CCI), the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences said NCCR monitors microplastics, mesoplastics, macroplastics and marine litter at selected locations along the Indian coastline, including Thoothukudi and the Gulf of Mannar. Studies have found synthetic filaments to be the dominant form of microplastics, while river discharge and abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) are the primary sources of pollution.
According to the ministry, microplastic abundance in sediments ranges between 28 and 60 particles per 50 grams of sediment in the Gulf of Mannar and along the Thoothukudi coast.
NCCR has developed the Clean Coast Index based on the abundance of microplastics and macroplastics in coastal environments. Based on current assessments, both coastal stretches have been categorised as “moderately clean”.
The ministry said NCCR continues to carry out scientific monitoring and assessment of marine litter and microplastics along India’s coastline and provides scientific inputs to ministries and stakeholders for policymaking and coastal management.
The government also highlighted measures taken to curb plastic pollution. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change banned identified single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential from July 1, 2022. It also notified the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines for plastic packaging.
Under the EPR framework, producers are required to meet targets for collection, recycling, reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content. Since 2022, around 232 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste have been processed under the framework, the ministry said.
It added that a draft National Marine Litter Policy has been prepared and shared with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for consultation.
The information was provided by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
