Page 61 - Plastics News April 2019

in the news

WII, National Geographic Society to monitor plastic pollution across

Ganga

n a first, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) along a phenomenon now that several rivers are bringing a lot of
Iwith US-based National Geographic Society (NGS), plastic waste to the seas, because of which oceans have
will start monitoring the accumulation of plastic waste become like garbage dumps. With this idea in mind, NGS
and its effect on marine life along the course of Ganga showed interest in carrying out a quantification of plastic
in Ganga and collaborated with WII for the project.” The
director also said that after the study is completed, the
observations will be shared with different stake holders
such as the industries, hospitals, locals to prevent the
rising plastic pollution in rivers.

Punjab to build link roads with
MLP waste recycled plastic

fter using multi-layered plastic (MLP) waste with
from April. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was Abitumen in re-carpeting of a road, t he Punjab
signed between NGS and the Ministry of Environment, government has decided to use the mix for re-carpeting
Forest and Climate Change in February regarding the of link roads across the state. Of total 61,436 km of
project under which the institutes would monitor the link roads in the state, the government has initiated
whole course of Ganga, from Gomukh to Ganga Sagar. the work on about 300 KM Punjab will become the first
Experts, after studying the plastic content, would give state in the country to use MLP waste in building roads.
solutions to conserve the marine life of Ganga. The first For research purpose, a small experimental stretch was
half of the survey is scheduled to start by the end of constructed on a road passing through Ikolaha village
April. VB Mathur, director of WII said, “The research in Ludhiana with the use of MLP along with bitumen, it
wing of NGS approached the central environment said. MLPs are non-recyclable, non-energy recoverable
ministry and WII as part of a global project of tracking and have no alternative uses. Later, the site test was
how plastics are moving in a system, that is, from conducted by Civil Engineering Department of Thapar
land to water till the sea. The project would look at University, Patiala which reported the road stretch to be
the magnitude of plastic in rivers, taking Ganga as an up to the mark, it said. Hence, further pilot stretches
example.” The project would track the whole course of roads would be made with similar premix to work out
of Ganga across the five states and the researchers the aggregate impact of MLP in terms of strength and
will try to identify and the check the source of plastic durability of roads. Simultaneously, the result of the
entering the water body. “Plastic in the river body can case study would be forwarded to the Highway Research
pollute the water, sand and also affect the aquatic Board -- Indian Road Congress for formal approval
life. When we try to look at plastic content, we will be and directions for the use of MLP, along with other
looking at all three aspects, especially animals ingesting material, in the construction and repair of roads and the
plastic,” added Mathur. The first phase of the project construction of pavements, Punjab's PWD Minister Vijay
will go on till monsoon and the second phase will start Inder Singla said. Singla, who had an interaction with
from October. GS Rawat, a senior scientist and dean at the officers of his department and with the chairman
Dehradun based Wildlife Institute of India, said, “With of Punjab Pollution Control Board, said that the use
this project our aim is to see what best can be done of MLPs for road and pavement construction will not
to minimise pollution caused due to plastic after the only channelise the use of waste but also help to get
source and the sink is identified.” Speaking on the idea rid of environmental degradation due to unscientific
behind the project, Rawat said, “Globally it has become disposal of this waste.

61 April 2019 Plastics News