Extended Producer Responsibility brought producers into the waste chain—not as bystanders, but as accountable actors. In my last article, I traced the rise of plastics in India — from the early growth of the industry to the explosion of single-use plastics in the 1990s that created mounting environmental concerns. I also looked at how the government began responding through the first plastic waste regulations in 1999 and the stricter rules introduced in 2011. However, those e

AI generated image Mumbai: In an important development, a two‑judge monitoring committee appointed by the Bombay High Court has flagged serious and persistent failures in Navi Mumbai’s air‑pollution control measures after an on‑site inspection on Monday, April 27. The panel, comprising Justice Anuja Prabhudesai and Justice Amjad Sayed, was constituted in February 2026 to supervise local authorities’ response to rising pollution levels after the court found prior efforts unsat

Community solar in mountain economies is powering a new regional diplomacy in the Himalayas. Far more than just decarbonization, the energy transformation in the Himalayan highlands is shaping the next chapter of regional diplomacy. While big powers discuss megawatts and grid integration, mountain villages in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and northern Myanmar continue to struggle with inconsistent electricity. However, these same mountains provide an underexplored potential in the fo

Have bans, rules and waste systems really been enough to tackle plastic waste? The Indian plastics industry began in 1957 with the state-owned Indian Petrochemicals. By 1979, the sector had taken firmer shape. Use of plastics in India became increasingly common over the decades and grew sharply in popularity in the 1990s. Single-use plastic entered the market and soon became a widely sought-after material for households and businesses alike. Plastic consumption had already be

Every year on April 22, the world observes Earth Day, a reminder that our planet is not just a place where we live, but our shared home that needs care, protection, and responsibility. In Indian culture, the Earth is often referred to as “Vasundhara,” meaning the nurturing mother who provides everything necessary for life-air, water, food, shelter, and natural beauty. The idea of Vasundhara teaches us respect for nature and reminds us that environmental protection is not just

Global warming refers to the gradual increase in the Earth’s average temperature due to the excessive accumulation of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, creating a “greenhouse effect” that leads to a steady rise in global temperatures. Over the past century, human activities-particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, rapid urbanisation, and industrialisation-have significantl

Plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental issue it is a growing public health concern. Plastics are indispensable, as discussed earlier, yet they severely harm not only cows, bulls, wild animals, and sea creatures but also human health. Plastic pollution poses health risks that start long before plastic becomes waste and persist throughout its entire life cycle. To clarify how plastics endanger human health, we must examine every stage of their life cycle. As we ha

Dear reader, last week, we saw how microplastics enter the aquatic food chain and eventually reach giants such as whales. This week, let us move a little further through the marine world and understand how plastic pollution is harming other ocean creatures as well, including sea turtles, seabirds and many other marine species. Like many other animals, sea turtles have been around for 100 million years. They have survived periodical mass extinctions and they have survived thro

The inspiring journey of Nashik’s ‘Tree Man’ Shekhar Gaikwad Nashik: If a person sets their mind to it, they can make the impossible possible. A prime example of this is the 'Mountain Man' of Bihar, Dashrath Manjhi, who carved a road through a mountain using only a hammer and chisel. His life story was even adapted into a highly successful film. Such passionate personalities are found in many places, and Shekhar Gaikwad of Nashik is one of them. He has taken up the mission of

Dear readers, in continuation of my article from last week, let us once again follow the krill and understand not only how they consume their food but also how they end up ingesting microplastic particles along the way. But before we get to that, it is important to first understand the very basics of the aquatic food chain, because that is where this story truly begins. In all kinds of aquatic ecosystems—whether oceans, seas, lakes, or rivers—there exist extremely tiny micros

The ocean’s giants are being killed not only by ghost nets but also by invisible microplastics rising through the food chain. Last week, we traced how floating plastic waste is swept into five major oceanic gyres – the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian Ocean gyres – where it accumulates in vast offshore zones. This week, we turn to the largest and most notorious of them all: the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located within the North Pacif

Plastic does not simply disappear at sea — it drifts, accumulates and returns to us through the food. Dear readers, as we continue our trail, let us now follow the journey of plastic waste from our rivers into the oceans. A significant share of the plastic polluting the world’s seas originates from just 10 countries. Topping the list is the Philippines, which is estimated to dump between 356,371 and 360,000 metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean every year. Shockingly, Mera

Plastic does not simply disappear after we throw it away — it clogs drains, chokes rivers, and worsens floods. In my article last week, we followed a trail with Meir and Advay and learned how the plastics we discard travel to the seas and oceans — through small and large gutters, rivers, estuaries, and creeks. Now, let us see what this plastic waste does to those waterways before it finally reaches the sea. Many a time, you may have seen photographs, reels, or documentaries s

What begins as a carelessly discarded plastic bottle can travel thousands of kilometres across the oceans. As described in my article last week, Meir and Advay decided to trace the journey of a plastic bottle and a polythene bag that someone had carelessly thrown away. Curious to see where such discarded items eventually end up, the boys began keeping a close eye on them. Soon, something unexpected happened. While a group of boys nearby were playing football, one of them acci

What seems like a careless human can become a death sentence for wildlife. Dear Reader, in my last article, I had briefly described how cows ingest plastic while foraging for food in garbage and waste dumps — an action driven by hunger and human negligence in waste disposal. However, cows and bulls are not the only animals exposed to and attracted to discarded food packed in plastic bags or wrappers. We have not spared even wild animals. We visit forests, national parks and o

Hazardous chemicals, depleted soil, and dying cattle reveal the true cost of plastic waste. In continuation of last week’s article, let us look more closely at what plastic waste is doing to our land and soil. When plastic waste remains on the soil surface for prolonged periods, it slowly releases hazardous chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). These substances seep into the soil, disrupting its natural composition, weakening soil health, and gradually reducing

Scientists describe microplastics as “toxic magnets” that carry heavy metals and chemicals into the food chain. Plastic has quietly become an inseparable part of daily life — from the clothes people wear and the packaging they use to the medical equipment found in hospitals and homes. Its convenience has made it unavoidable in modern society. However, scientists now warn that the same material is creating a serious environmental and public health challenge. Every year, millio

India has initiatives to tackle plastic waste. What it lacks is coordination, infrastructure and sustained public participation. In continuation of my last article, let us explore a few more challenges India faces in managing its plastic waste. Informal Waste Sector In India, a significant portion of waste—particularly in urban areas—is managed by informal waste pickers. You may often have noticed small children and women sifting through heaps of roadside rubbish, drains, or

IIT Bombay Director Dr. Shireesh B. Kedare Mumbai: “The extreme of anything becomes pollution.” With this powerful axiom, Prof. Dr. Shireesh B. Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, opened a roadmap for the future of urban India at the Harit Samvad symposium. Addressing a diverse audience of over 190 delegates at the NSE Auditorium in BKC on Sunday, Dr. Kedare moved beyond traditional environmental rhetoric to deliver a data-driven wake-up call regarding the planet’s disturbed ener

Veteran thinker and social activist K N Govindacharya, through the Forum For Eco-centric Development, kick-started the 'Prakriti Samvad' campaign last year. The campaign aims at raising awareness about the dangers of our lifestyle choices, seeking solutions, and promoting a nature-friendly way of living to ensure prosperity while maintaining ecological balance. In an interaction with Abhijit Mulye, the Political Editor of ‘The Perfect Voice’ , Govindacharya said that develop