Lok Sabha Question No. 3396 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Plastic Debris in Coastal Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## 3396. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has  any data about the quantum  of plastic debris accumulated in coastal area;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  contemplated  plans  to  tackle  the  issue  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether the sea animals are seriously affected by the said issue;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to control the use of plastics in the Country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) to (f) No  Sir,  there  is  no  specific  data  on  the  quantum  of  plastic  debris  being accumulated in the coastal area. However, to curb plastic pollution, MoEFCC has come out with  revised  regulations  for  management  of  Plastic  Wastes  and  notified  "Plastic  Waste Management  Rules,  2016",  which,  inter-alia  regulates manufacture,  sale,  distribution  of plastics. It aims to minimize plastic waste generation by encouraging recycling and re-use of plastic waste in road construction, energy & oil recovery.Further, Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced India's pledge to Ban all Single-Use Plastic by 2022. In this regard Ministry has issued guidelines and written letters to offices of Central Government and its departments, major PSUs, corporates, etc to prohibit single-use plastic products in their offices.

Through the CRZ Notification,  2011  several  activities  are  prohibited  in  the  coastal areas like setting up and expansion of industries, disposal of wastes and effluents, except for some  essential  activities.  Government  of  India,  has  initiated  several  programmes  such  as 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', National Mission for Clean Ganga and Smart Cities Mission' in order to develop a clean and sustainable environment.

Plastic litter is responsible for a number of deaths of marine animals by ingestion or starvation or injury etc. To tackle the problem of marine litter particularly due to the plastic

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3396

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/07/2019

## Plastic Debris in Coastal Areas

waste,a  Steering  Committee  with  stakeholders  from  all  the  concerned  Ministries  and Departments has been constituted by MoEFCC.

The  Committee  shall  co-ordinate  the  actions  of  all  the  Ministries  toexamine  the proposals submitted by the Nodal Ministry for prioritizing the tasks for the management of marine litter, provide recommendations to the Ministries/departments for streamlining their acts/notifications, strategic guidance to the concerned State Government, advise the Central government on policy, planning, research and development to promote measures focusing on sound  waste  management,  recovery  of  marine  plastic  litter,  deployment  of  innovative technologies  and  materials,  public  education  and  outreach,  international  cooperation  to enhance national capacities.

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