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By:

Dr. Sanjay Joshi

31 August 2024 at 3:05:29 pm

India: The Largest Source of Plastic Pollution Worldwide

So, dear readers, now that we have learnt how and why waste plastic causes pollution, let us look a little deeper into this problem, which has grown out of proportion both globally and locally. Plastic pollution is no longer a distant issue; it has become a serious and immediate threat to our environment. According to the latest data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and several international researchers, over 460...

India: The Largest Source of Plastic Pollution Worldwide

So, dear readers, now that we have learnt how and why waste plastic causes pollution, let us look a little deeper into this problem, which has grown out of proportion both globally and locally. Plastic pollution is no longer a distant issue; it has become a serious and immediate threat to our environment. According to the latest data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and several international researchers, over 460 million metric tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide every year. This plastic is used in a wide range of applications, many of which are short-lived and quickly discarded. From this, an estimated 20–23 million metric tonnes of plastic waste end up in the environment annually. This figure is expected to increase sharply by 2040 if strong measures are not taken. Plastic litter is now found everywhere—on land, in rivers, in oceans, and even in the air as microplastics. Although plastic pollution is a global problem, Mera Mahan Bharat is sadly at the forefront of this crisis. A recent paper published in Nature states that India has become the world’s largest contributor to plastic pollution, accounting for nearly 20% of the total global plastic waste. India generates about 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. This is more than the waste produced by many regions. Of this, nearly 3.5 million tonnes are improperly discarded and mismanaged, meaning they are neither collected nor scientifically processed. Plastic waste in India has been rising at an alarming rate due to rapid urbanisation, population growth, and economic development. In cities, the demand for single-use plastics and packaging materials has increased drastically, driven by convenience and changing lifestyles. India’s per capita plastic consumption has reached around 11 kg per year and is expected to grow further with increasing industrialisation and consumerism. This trend places enormous pressure on our already overburdened waste management systems. The major factors responsible for the sharp increase in plastic pollution in India are as follows. Single-Use Plastics Single-use plastics, such as polythene carry bags, straws, disposable cutlery, cups, and packaging materials, form a large share of India’s plastic waste. Despite regulatory bans and restrictions, nearly 43% of the country’s total plastic waste still comes from single-use plastics. This clearly shows that the problem lies not only in policy-making but also in enforcement and implementation. The continued dominance of single-use plastics is largely due to weak monitoring and the lack of affordable, easily available alternatives. Many small vendors, shopkeepers, and consumers still find plastic to be the cheapest and most convenient option for daily use. Although the government introduced a ban on selected single-use plastic items in 2022, its impact on the ground has been limited. These products are still widely manufactured, sold, and used because they are inexpensive, lightweight, and readily available in local markets, making the ban difficult to enforce consistently. Open Burning and Landfilling: About 5.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are openly burnt across India every year, mainly in rural areas and urban slums. This practice is extremely dangerous, as it not only worsens air pollution but also releases highly toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. These pollutants directly harm local communities and add to climate change. In addition, nearly 30% of total plastic waste is dumped in uncontrolled landfills. Such sites are not scientifically managed, allowing harmful chemicals to seep into the soil and nearby water bodies. Over time, this contaminates groundwater, damages ecosystems, and poses serious risks to human and animal life. During the winter months, it is common to see people collecting wood and dry leaf litter from the streets, lighting small fires, and sitting around them for warmth. However, plastic bottles, wrappers, and polythene bags often get mixed in and are burnt along with the leaves. Most people are unaware that they are not only polluting the environment but also inhaling toxic fumes from very close distances. The smoke from burning plastic contains harmful substances that can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, skin issues, and even long-term diseases such as cancer. Open burning of plastic is therefore one of the most hazardous practices for human health and environmental safety. Besides these factors, inefficient waste management infrastructure, discrepancies in data reporting, and heavy dependence on informal waste handling systems further worsen the problem. We will explore these issues in greater detail next week. Till then, have a good weekend! (The author is an environmentalist. Views Personal.)

Towards Normalcy

A fresh pact between New Delhi and two powerful Kuki insurgent groups finally opens a narrow path towards peace in Manipur. The Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front have signed a renegotiated ‘Suspension of Operations’ (SoO) agreement with the Centre and the Manipur government. The deal requires militants to move camps away from Meitei settlements, deposit weapons with federal forces and submit to tighter verification. Crucially, they pledged to respect the territorial integrity of Manipur.


The agreement comes days before Narendra Modi’s first visit to Manipur since ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023. For the Prime Minister, it is an opportunity to show progress in a state paralysed by distrust between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo. For ordinary Manipuris, the pact could mark the start of relief from months of violence, curfews and economic blockade.


Delhi paired the deal with a claim that the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) had agreed to open NH-02, a key highway linking Imphal to Dimapur, for free passage of commuters and essential goods. Symbolically, this matters as much as the insurgent truce. For several months now, buffer zones manned by security forces have kept communities apart, while travellers risked harassment or worse when passing through rival areas. A functioning highway restores not just trade but the possibility of contact across the divide.


As with most things in Manipur, the optimism was quickly tempered. Within hours, the KZC clarified that it had never shut the highway, and that its appeal to locals in Kangpokpi district should not be mistaken as approval for unrestricted movement across buffer zones. The hedging revealed how delicate even small gestures remain. Yet the willingness to cooperate with security forces along the route marked a departure from last year’s open hostility.


Not all groups are on board. The Zomi Council, a long-standing organisation in Churachandpur, protested that it was excluded from the talks, accusing the government of privileging the newer KZC and sowing division. The United Naga Council, representing Manipur’s Nagas, has announced a trade embargo in protest at border fencing with Myanmar. Still, the very fact that grievances are being channelled through negotiations, embargoes and statements rather than gunfire is itself progress.


The PM’s visit is as much about optics as policy. His long silence on Manipur was read as indifference. Sustaining the peace momentum requires concrete security guarantees that allows for inclusive dialogue and development that reaches beyond Imphal into the hills.


Even so, there is reason to be guardedly hopeful. If militants stay in their camps, if weapons remain deposited, if highways remain passable, a measure of normalcy could return. Each concession, however small, chips away at the paralysis of mistrust.


Manipur’s tragedy has been its descent into silos, with each community barricaded from the other. The opening of NH-02 could act as a bridge between warring communities. If the Centre can sustain this momentum, the return of free movement could pave the way for freer politics as well.

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