Pathanamthitta: Studies have showed that significant concentrations of microplastics formed by the degradation of the plastic material were posing a growing threat to the ecological diversity of Vembanad, the largest lake in the state, even as the indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste in and around the waterbody continued.
The dumping of plastic waste in backwaters by houseboats and other sources is destroying the fish wealth and killing Vembanad, which has been recognised as a Ramsar wetland site of international importance.
Conducted by E V Ramasamy, director, School of Environmental Sciences, MG University, in association with S Sruthy, research fellow, it was the first study in the country on microplastics in lake and estuarine sediments.
As April 22 marks the 48th Earth Day — a day to celebrate our planet, wildlife and environment, initiatives announced by state governments over the years for the protection and preservation of Vembanad has been implemented have not seen the light of the day.
This year's Earth Day's theme, as proclaimed by the Earth Day Network, is 'End Plastic Pollution'.
The study on sediment samples collected from 10 sites in the southern part of lake had indicated extensive distribution of polyethylene in the lake. The food web could be contaminated through the clams and fishes in the lake, the study had warned.
Polluted coastlines
The coastlines along Mumbai (Juhu), Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are among the most polluted in the world, a recent study by researchers from the Germany-based Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research in Germany, that mapped marine pollution around the world, has found.
The data based on 1,237 scientific studies showed that the seas near Mumbai and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the worst of the lot.
Truck-worth of plastic
The report shows that at least 8 million tonnes of plastics enter the ocean each year, which is equivalent to dumping a garbage truck of plastic into marine waters every minute. At this rate, there will be more waste plastic in the sea than fish by 2050, the study warns.
Plastics production was around 1.1 million tonnes in 1964, which increased twenty-fold to 31.1 million tonnes by 2014.
The global paper recycling rate stands at about 58 per cent, while the diversion rate of iron and plastic is 90 per cent and 5-15 per cent respectively.
A petition seeking a ban on 99 pesticides that are already outlawed or restricted in advanced nations is pending before the Supreme Court. Scientific studies have linked pesticide use to depression and suicidal tendencies among farmers as a result of damage to the brain and nervous system.
Legislative panel to meet tomorrow
A Legislative Committee on Environment will hold discussions with heads of departments concerned before submitting a report to the government on the protection of Vembanad Lake and its ecosystem.
At the meeting, to be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, the panel will have a face-to-face consultation with secretaries of Water Authority, Public Works, Local Self-Government Department, and Environment, before finalising its recommendations on the subject. Field experts will also attend the meeting.
Based on the outcome of the meeting, a report containing recommendations and suggestions for the protection of Vembanad lake will be tabled in the next session of the Legislative Assembly, said committee chairman and former agriculture minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran MLA.
The committee had convened a meeting at Alappuzha on December 21 to review the activities undertaken by various departments towards the protection of the waterbody. There were criticisms that the officials concerned failed to submit certain facts and details pertaining to the problems being faced by the waterbody at the meeting.
Though the Legislative Committee had set a 15-day deadline for filing a detailed report on the action taken to comply with its directive, the authorities have not submitted the report yet.
The panel has sought a fresh status report from the departments on what they were doing to revive the waterbody, which is also the largest wetland ecosystem in south India.