Mumbai: India is hosting World Environment Day this year, which will be observed on June 5. A major event was held on the Versova beach on Sunday morning, which saw Erik Solheim, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme, taking a close look at the beach clean-up efforts by volunteers. The Hindu spoke to Mr. Solheim about his views on Mumbai’s polluted sea and the plan ahead.
What do you think about the beaches in Mumbai?
First time I came here, what I saw was absolutely unbelievable. It was horrendous. Plastic, hard-packed plastic everywhere. I had never seen anything like this. Now there is still plastic, but a lot of it is on the surface. There has been a fantastic improvement.
The aim is to make the beaches available to people, where they hang out with their girlfriends or boyfriends, enjoy coffee or a masala tea. All over the world, we see that beaches and river banks are the most sought after; popular places where people want small cafés or to jog or cycle.
What is the plan?
It’s a big movement for India. On June 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bring all the States of India together for this cause. Spiritual gurus like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and others are carrying out clean-up drives. Global companies like Adidas, CocaCola, and Citi Bank are also taking steps. I am travelling to Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and different parts of the country to inspire people to beat plastic pollution. This is, in turn, inspiring the rest of the world. Besides the leadership at the top level, we need leadership at the ground level as well.
Should plastic be entirely banned?
We do need plastic for certain purposes. Such plastic should be conserved, recycled, and used better. Plastic that we use and throw away can be done without. No plastic should end up in the oceans or national parks or on the streets of Mumbai. Single-use plastic has to be phased out, and the plastic that we need must be recyclable.
Do you think there is a need to change the mindset?
Yes, there has to be a change in the mindset and there has to be action by political leaders as well. A good example to follow is Rwanda. When you talk to people there, they say the country’s President inspires them about cleanliness. Since they don’t see their neighbours throw plastic, they themselves don’t do it either.
